Daytona 500 winner, Jamie McMurray, joined his car’s co-owner, Chip Ganassi, and Indy 500 winner, Dario Franchitti for a unique photo at the Brickyard.
"Honestly, my first thought was that I was happy for Chip as an owner, but I was really happier for him as my friend,” said Jamie McMurray. “We certainly have been through a lot in our time together and coming back here and winning the 500 was certainly a high point for me and now with Dario winning in Indianapolis, the accomplishment for Chip of winning both in the same season is truly amazing. Chip and I have become really close and that’s really the first thing I thought of was that I was just really happy for him as my friend.”
It was doubly an historic occasion. Ganassi became the first car owner to win the Daytona 500 and Indy 500 in the same year. And, it was the first time that the iconic Harley Earl Daytona 500 trophy traveled to another state and joined the oldest iconic trophy the Borg-Warner trophy.
“We were actually comparing trophies out there because, you know, these are so big they actually keep them at the track. So I asked him how big the actual trophy was? One of the things I never thought about as a kid when I dreamed of winning these really big races was that because of the fans and the media the next day, you don't really get a chance to celebrate it that night,” McMurray added.
Coincidentally both drivers returned to drive for Ganassi in their respective series and have gone on to enjoy important victories.
"It's really a good time to be in Chip's organization," said McMurray, who left Ganassi's Cup team for four seasons before returning this year. "His IndyCar team and Grand Am team have always run really good, and now his Cup team is at that level, too. I can't speak for Dario, but it sure feels good to come back to the team."
"Honestly, my first thought was that I was happy for Chip as an owner, but I was really happier for him as my friend,” said Jamie McMurray. “We certainly have been through a lot in our time together and coming back here and winning the 500 was certainly a high point for me and now with Dario winning in Indianapolis, the accomplishment for Chip of winning both in the same season is truly amazing. Chip and I have become really close and that’s really the first thing I thought of was that I was just really happy for him as my friend.”
It was doubly an historic occasion. Ganassi became the first car owner to win the Daytona 500 and Indy 500 in the same year. And, it was the first time that the iconic Harley Earl Daytona 500 trophy traveled to another state and joined the oldest iconic trophy the Borg-Warner trophy.
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| Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray, cars owner Chip Ganassi and Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti |
“We were actually comparing trophies out there because, you know, these are so big they actually keep them at the track. So I asked him how big the actual trophy was? One of the things I never thought about as a kid when I dreamed of winning these really big races was that because of the fans and the media the next day, you don't really get a chance to celebrate it that night,” McMurray added.
Coincidentally both drivers returned to drive for Ganassi in their respective series and have gone on to enjoy important victories.
"It's really a good time to be in Chip's organization," said McMurray, who left Ganassi's Cup team for four seasons before returning this year. "His IndyCar team and Grand Am team have always run really good, and now his Cup team is at that level, too. I can't speak for Dario, but it sure feels good to come back to the team."