Reigning Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti is returning to Petit Le Mans for the season finale of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. The four-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion and three-time 500 winner will join younger brother and sports car ace Marino behind the wheel of the No. 95 Level 5 Motorsports Honda Performance Development ARX-03b P2 car at Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda.
The Franchitti brothers will pair with regular Level 5 driver and team owner Scott Tucker in the 1,000-mile/10-hour race on Saturday, Oct. 20th.
“We’re thrilled to have Dario and Marino Franchitti with us to close out the season,” Tucker said. “We’ve had a great year, and we are looking forward to another strong effort at Road Atlanta for Petit Le Mans. And, having the Indy 500 champion on your side is always a plus.”
It will be the second Petit Le Mans race for Dario, who has a Sebring P2 victory (2007) to his credit in four ALMS starts. Marino, twice a Prototype Challenge winner in ALMS this season, will make his second consecutive appearance with Level 5 at Petit Le Mans; the Scotsman finished fifth in class last year driving the No. 055 with Tucker and Luis Diaz. Marino Franchitti is a two-time P2 winner at Petit Le Mans – 2009 and 2010.
Level 5’s second car, the No. 055 HPD ARX-03b will be driven by Tucker, Christophe Bouchut and Luis Diaz. Level 5, Tucker and Bouchut are currently in a tight battle for the P2 team and driver championships with Conquest Endurance and its duo of David Heinemeier-Hansson and Martin Plowman.
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Both the #95 and #55 Level 5 Racing cars competing in the 2012 American Le Mans Series at Lime Rock.–
This will be the first time the two brothers share a car in ALMS competition. They drove together previously in the Daytona 24 Hours.
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Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda, the 1,000-mile/10-hour ALMS finale from Road Atlanta is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, Oct 20. ABC’s broadcast begins at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 21. Full, live coverage starts at 11:15 a.m. ET on ESPN3.
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