Zippo 200 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International, where he started from pole position. During the Aaron's 312 at Talladega, he sustained a minor left ankle fracture in an major accident with Larry Gunselman after his right-rear tyre failed early in the event. Franchitti was replaced by Stremme, Ken Schrader, Jeremy Mayfield, and Sterling Marlin during his recovery. 2009–2013 He thought of returning to IndyCar while spectating the 2008 Indianapolis 500 and signed a multi-year contract with CGR to replace Wheldon from the 2009 season. Franchitti wanted to join CGR's No. 41 NASCAR Cup Series team before being reminded of the capability of IndyCars. After placing fourth in the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, he won the following Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach after leading a race-high 51 laps. Franchitti finished no lower than seventh in the next three races and took pole position for the Bombardier Learjet 550. He won Iowa Corn Indy 250 for his second victory of 2009. Following his taking pole position for the SunTrust Indy Challenge, he led the championship after finishing second before exchanging it with teammate Dixon over the next four races. Franchitti led 45 laps of the Honda Indy Toronto from pole position to win. He took three more top six finishes before leading the entire Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma from pole position in his fourth win of 2009. Two more top-four finishes meant he was five points behind Dixon going into the season-ending Firestone Indy 300. Franchitti won the race from pole position for his second championship title, finishing the year 11 points ahead of Dixon. He returned to CGR to defend his title in the 2010 season. At the season-opening São Paulo Indy 300, Franchitti took pole position and finished the rain-interrupted event in seventh. He was third in the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park and second in the RoadRunner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas. Franchitti qualified third for the Indianapolis 500 and led 155 laps in his second win at the event. He achieved consecutive podium finishes in both the Honda Indy Toronto and the Honda Indy Edmonton over the following five races. Franchitti won both the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the Peak Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 at Chicagoland. A fifth at Kentucky Speedway and second at Motegi put him 12 points behind