In an attempt to save what has been a more than disappointing year, Chip Ganassi has given up on the No. 40. Team officials announced on Tuesday that due to a "lack of sponsorship funding", Chip Ganassi Racing was forced to shut down the team with Dario Franchitti behind the wheel. While it is obvious that the lack of a secure sponsor played a role in this, it's inevitable other factors weighed on the decision.

The No. 40 team is currently 40th in owner standings and well outside the top-35 cut-off (the top-35 teams in owner points are secured a spot in the race). Franchitti missed five races after breaking his ankle in a Nationwide Series race at Talladega in April. Since then the team has struggled along with the rest of the organization.

Franchitti has failed to qualify for two events this year - including, most surprisingly, the race at Infineon. His best finish on the year was a 22nd in Martinsville. Keep in mind Franchitti was last year's Indy Racing League's champion and Indianapolis 500 winner.

By shutting down the No. 40 team, this allows more focus to be spent on the No. 41 of Reed Sorenson and the No. 42 of Juan Pablo Montoya. Both have had unexpectedly rough years. They have gone through crew chief changes, personnel shifts and suffered through poor luck, and it's only the first half of the season. Running 31st and 21st in owner points respectively, these teams need a swift kick in the pants and this announcement might just be it.