BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) _ Dario Franchitti has had instability throughout his 11-year career with the Indy Racing League and Championship Auto Racing Teams.
``I think I've only had one contract longer than a year,'' he said.
Perhaps that's why the Scot is calm about his uncertain future.
Franchitti's under contract to drive in three more IndyCar series races this season for Andretti Green Racing. The four-car team, which includes drivers Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti, has only one spot open after signing Danica Patrick last week.
``We're talking with Andretti Green _ and with other people,'' Franchitti said. ``I enjoy driving with this team. I have great teammates and supportive sponsors, but we'll see what happens.''
Kim Green, who co-owns AGR with Michael Andretti, was not forthcoming when asked what Franchitti's chances were of returning to the team for a fifth straight year.
``I would like him to drive with Andretti Green, if he wants to drive with Andretti Green,'' he said. ``We're working on that area as we speak.
``In recent years, he's really had to decide if he wants to continue to do this because you have to give a lot of yourself to compete at this level.''
Helio Castroneves, who won Sunday's Firestone Indy 400, said Franchitti has a tough decision to make.
``He's on a team that had the last two champions, but sometimes what works for one driver doesn't work for another,'' Castroneves said. ``Sometimes, a change can benefit you because it gives you an emotional boost.''
Although Franchitti declined to reveal much about the hopes for his future, he made his point clear about the possible merger of IRL and Champ Car, which surfaced after CART went bankrupt.
``It just has to happen because the sum of the two parts are so much stronger than one alone,'' said Franchitti, who was a CART driver from 1997-2002 and is in his fifth season with the IRL. ``If and when we combine the two, and hopefully it's when, it will make open-wheel racing here so much stronger. It would put the strengths of the two together instead of comparing one to the other.''
IRL and Champ Car have taken important steps toward unifying the two open-wheel series, but there are many issues to resolve. Roger Penske is pessimistic they can be settled soon.
``I think it's very difficult,'' said Penske, whose Marlboro Team Penske drivers have won seven IndyCar series races this season.
Wherever Franchitti races next season, he longs to get back to his winning ways.
He does not have a victory this season _ with just two top-five finishes _ after winning two races each of the previous two years and 14 in his IRL/CART career.
Franchitti finished 12th Sunday, his sixth race out of the top 10 in 11 races, and fell one spot to eighth in the IndyCar series points standings.
``I'm used to winning, whether it's been in a Champ Car or in the IRL. It's been difficult to not be in that position,'' Franchitti said. ``There have only been a few races when I felt we had a legitimate chance to win.''
One of those races was the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in April, when he had the pole but finished just 15 laps because of a wheel problem.
``He got off to a not-so-good start, and I think that's been difficult for him,'' Green said. ``And maybe, he's lost a little focus.''
Franchitti's focus off the track is his family life, which includes a famous wife, actress Ashley Judd, two dogs and a home in Nashville, Tenn. The couple draws plenty of attention on race weekends but don't expect Franchitti to talk about what it's like to be in a high-profile marriage.
``I'm always open to talking about racing and my life,'' he bristled. ``But my private life is just that _ private.''
