09/02/2008 - Concord, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Target Chip Ganassi Racing announced Tuesday that Dario Franchitti will replace Dan Wheldon in the team's No.10 car, starting in 2009. Franchitti, the 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner and IndyCar Series champion, will return to the open-wheel ranks after spending less than a year in NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series competition. He plans to make several more Nationwide starts this year.
"Part of the reason that I signed with Ganassi last year was because of how many options that Chip has at his disposal for a driver," Franchitti said. "You can do almost any form of racing that you want."
Franchitti's transition to the big leagues in stock cars was tougher than he thought. His best finish in 10 Sprint Cup starts this season was 22nd in March at Martinsville, VA.
"With unification and the new schedule having more road and street courses, it made me think about this more and more," Franchitti said. "I have really enjoyed this last season in stock cars and have not completely closed that chapter of my professional career, but the opportunity that arose was just something I could not pass up."
Franchitti will be teamed with Scott Dixon, who is currently battling Helio Castroneves for the 2008 IndyCar title. Dixon holds a 30-point lead over Castroneves heading into Sunday's season-finale at the Chicagoland Speedway. Last year, Franchitti and Dixon battled for the championship all the way to the last lap at Chicago with Franchitti winning the race and the title.
In July, Franchitti was out of a Cup ride when Ganassi ceased operation of its No.40 team due to lack of sponsorship. He continued to run in some Nationwide races.
"I have really grown to see more of what he is about this season while he raced in NASCAR," team owner Chip Ganassi said. "When there was a possibility of an opening on our IndyCar team, the only person I thought about was Dario. This is going to be a great move for Dario and for our team."
After terrifying airborne crashes in consecutive weeks at Michigan and Kentucky in 2007, Franchitti and his wife, actress Ashley Judd, were convinced it was time for the Scotsman to leave open-wheel racing. It was one of the major factors that led him to NASCAR.
Franchitti was not hurt last year at Michigan and Kentucky, but he sustained a fractured ankle during a crash in the Nationwide race in April at Talladega.
Wheldon won the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and series championship with Andretti Green Racing. The following year, he joined Ganassi and tied Sam Hornish, Jr. for the series title. However, Wheldon lost the "Championship Cup" based on the first tiebreaker (Hornish's four wins for the season compared to Wheldon's two).
"I will be announcing my plans for next season in the near future," Wheldon said. "In the meantime, I want to focus my efforts on winning the last race of the season."
Wheldon has recorded 15 victories in 96 IndyCar starts.
<< Rockies make slew of roster moves
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies made a number of roster
moves on Tuesday, most notably reinstating pitcher Matt Herges from the 15-day
disabled list.
Herges, who has been was sidelined since mid-August due to l
<< Astros' Matsui activated from 15-day DL
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Houston Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui
was activated from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.
The 32-year-old Matsui was placed on the DL on August 16 with an irritated
disc in his back. Matsui has h
<< Rays activate Percival off DL
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays activated closer
Troy Percival from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.
The veteran closer has been sidelined since August 14, with cartilage damage
in his right knee.
Percival
<< Bucs trade for Mahan
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have acquired
guard/center Sean Mahan from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for an
undisclosed draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Mahan started all 16 games at cen
Golden Gophers ink head coach Borton to six-year deal >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Golden Gophers inked head
women's basketball coach Pam Borton to a new six-year contract on Tuesday.
The new deal, announced by director of athletics Joe Maturi, was announced on
Tuesday.
Nationals' Flores leaves game versus Phillies >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington Nationals catcher Jesus Flores
left Tuesday's game against the Phillies after Chase Utley, while trying to
score from third after a pickoff attempt to first base in the third inning,
drove
Tigers bring up four, transfer Bonderman and Wilson >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers have recalled right-handed
pitcher Chris Lambert and lefty Clay Rapada from Triple-A Toledo and purchased
the contracts of catcher Dusty Ryan and infielder Mike Hessman from Toledo on
Tuesday
Utah's Eliapo out with foot injury >>
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Utah nose tackle Kenape Eliapo is
expected to miss the next six to eight weeks with a left foot injury, coach
Kyle Whittingham announced Tuesday.
Eliapo, who played in all 13 games for the Ut
Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
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Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch
Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.
Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.
"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."
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