At least Regan Smith still has a Cup ride, which is more than Franchitti has. And Franchitti isn't taking his team's shake-up very well.

"It was such a big shock that it happened," he said. ""I and 70 people lost their jobs … so a lot of people are upset right now.

"Everybody's having challenges getting sponsorship right now. There are probably two or three teams looking good -- and a lot of other teams struggling. I understand that if there's no money there is no money. And the timing of these things are never good….

"I had so much luck last year in Indy-car that I really felt at times I couldn't do any wrong. Luck has a way of balancing out.

"But it's particularly frustrating because we really felt that we were getting hold of it. The team struggled at the start of the year, and I struggled learning the ropes. But since I came back from my broken ankle (at Talladega in April), I really felt we were running as well if not better, compared to my teammates, at certainly Pocono, Michigan and Loudon.

"Obviously we didn't qualify at Sonoma, but at those other three races I felt we made a lot of progress.

"But, in keeping with what's happened this season, if it could go wrong it did go wrong. We've been taken out twice and blown an engine. But we're running top-15 every week, some cases top-10 … apart from Sonoma. So I really feel we're getting there.

"It gives me hope that -- given the right chances and the right equipment -- we can do this. I hope we get that chance."

After all Franchitti gave up a very strong Indy-car career to make the leap to NASCAR. Does he have second thoughts now?

"I was thinking about that the other day," he said. "When I made the decision to leave Indy-car, it was because I felt I had run my course. I didn't feel I was going to have that -- I don't know the right word, determination maybe, to get back in the car again this year.

"I really felt it was time to do something else. Had I not come to NASCAR I would have done something else…."

Franchitti says that now, everything else is up to car owner Ganassi.

"We're starting to look around, starting to talk, but really nothing is going to happen until I speak to Chip and see what his plan is for the future … and see if it's something I'm interested in," Franchitti said. "Then I can make a decision…." - journalnow.com

Captain Thunder Has Created A New NASCAR Smart Phone App

"Captain Thunder's NASCAR News"

Click Here To Download The Most Complete NASCAR App Available Anywhere