After an attempt to make it in NASCAR’s top series, 2007 IRL and Indy 500 champ Dario Franchitti returns to open-wheel racing this year in the IRL, which opens its season Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

He’ll be driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, for whom he drove in NASCAR, after previously driving in IRL for Andretti Green Racing.

Franchitti should be in a four- or five-driver mix in title contention, along with defending champ and teammate Scott Dixon, former champ and former teammate Tony Kanaan at Andretti, ’04 champ Dan Wheldon of Panther Racing. and perhaps one of the Penske drivers — Ryan Briscoe or Will Power.

Other drivers to watch include Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick of Andretti Green, Graham Rahal of Newman/Haas/Lanigan, and Justin Wilson of Coyne Racing.

Interesting note for this season, from the Associated Press: Team owner Michael Andretti will be on Patrick’s pitbox this season calling the shots, so it coud be a make-or-break year for Patrick, who has one victory to her credit in five years on the circuit.

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