Dario Franchitti’s No. 10 Honda is getting a new look—and number—ahead of the Indy 500.
Debuting opening weekend at the 96th annual Indianapolis 500, the four-time and defending IndyCar champ will change to the No. 50 in honor of Target’s 50th anniversary. A fitting tribute, a distinct Bullseye will serve as the zero in the car number.
Target and team owner Chip Ganassi have partnered together for nearly half of those 50 years. Established in 1990, Target Chip Ganassi Racing has been lapping competition for 23 years—amassing 86 victories and nine titles.
“Driving with a target on my back, literally, for the past four seasons, I’ve come to find not only what an incredible sponsor Target has been but what a truly amazing corporation they’ve become,” says Franchitti. “I look forward to representing them at Indianapolis again this May, especially in such a landmark year.”
The car number change could serve as good luck for two-time Indy 500 winner.
Dating back to the first race in 1911, there have been six three-time winners of the event (Louis Meyer, Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser and Helio Castroneves). All six of the three-time victors had different car numbers for their races. As Franchitti looks to become the seventh to accomplish the feat on Memorial Day, he is serendipitously repeating history—he won the Indy 500 in 2007 in car No. 27 and finished first in 2010 in car No. 10.
Dario and teammate Scott Dixon—the 2008 Indianapolis 500 Winner—will also have the new 50th logo on the chest of their fire suits for the month of May.
The best of luck to both drivers!
