Chip Ganassi has done the ultimate disservice to the green-card bearing driver of the 40… shutting down the much-loved car for the rest of the season after apparently tiring of watching Dario pilot it to 4oth place in NASCAR races.

Sterling Marlin fan Benny Goodbuzz crowed, “That’s the number of the car, Dario, t’ain’t the position you are supposed to finish the race in. Sheesus.”

On the other side of the story, a bleary-eye Franchitti awoke this morning and looked outside his apartment only to discover that his beloved Dodge Charger was not at the curb where he usually parks it.

Dario’s friends suggested he retrace his steps from the night before, but the NASCAR could not be found at the Outback, the Sunglass Hut, or at the “disco.”

Franchitti is currently in negotiations with a cadre of super-hot aliens to drive the car of tomorrow on the planet Zorb for Continuum Transfunctioner Industries.