Dario Franchitti and Indy 500

Yes, you can go home. And the Scotsman stormed the fort.


Dario Franchitti back, way back. An IndyCar Series championship last year, again. A winner of the Indy 500 this year, again.

Franchitti back to where he is happy at the top of the disciplines of racing he loved. A Year in the NASCAR miserable two seasons ago is long gone but not forgotten.

"The second time was just as good," said Franchitti Indy victory number two. "To come back after going for one year, but won the championship and the Indy 500, I just almost really talk."

[+] EnlargeDario Franchitti
AP Photo / Mike GrollDario Franchitti first pump after winning both the Indianapolis 500.

The right person to win Sunday, but helter-skelter last few laps, where fuel strategy ran the field and then shot terrible accident, fear of crowds.

Mike Conway car from the air and flipped to the fence to catch. He was lucky to get out of there with only a left leg injury.

Fuel window shuffle the pack and put some drivers, who was not there most of the day. Confusing. The results of more than one hour after the race ended, but then four drivers who were under the last warning.

Wheldon And the second, and after further review, Marco Andretti third. Danica Patrick, a yellow pedestrians, still complete an impressive sixth after a few races 15th or worse.

But Franchitti front all day. He went the distance, almost, something must be done in the year 2007, when a rain shortened race. The famous wife, actress Ashley Judd, excitement ran into the street to greet him after hole Sunday, the same as him three years ago.

This time a yellow-final round allowed Franchitti to the coast to the finish, knowing the fuel is running on fumes. Nobody knows whether Franchitti will end up among the green, but everyone knew he deserved to win.

"The best car and best driver win the race today, 'said Tony Kanaan, who started last, defiant to the finals and finished 11th to win. "That's fair enough."

Franchitti led 155 of 200 laps, which is one of the 10 Indy shows its dominance in the last 50 years. And he gives his boss historic gift.

Chip Ganassi became the first team owner to the Daytona 500 and Indy 500 win in the same year. Jamie McMurray at Daytona in his first race win with the Ganassi team back in February.

"If people [Sprint Cup car] had in '08," joked Franchitti. "But maybe I will not be here if that is true, so everything worked perfectly."

Ganassi stuck with after a season in 2008 when Dario Franchitti NASCAR leave the experiment to end racing career.

After winning the IndyCar title and the Indy 500 in 2007 to team with Michael Andretti, Franchitti choose a trendy thing to do and switch to NASCAR with Ganassi's team.

The result? Poor finishing, crashes and a broken ankle. It failed miserably.

"I hope to retire at that point," Franchitti said. "To be invited back here, well, this was pretty cool .. I never expected"

Franchitti was 35th after the disappointment of his NASCAR. More than some people think that the best days in racing everyone behind him. Ganassi was not one of them.


Getty, AP Image Dario Franchitti, central, and Ashley Judd wife and owner of Chip Ganassi all kneel at the start / end of line after Franchitti won the Indy 500.

"I know that he is the best person available to [IndyCar] drive and still is," Ganassi said. "If we make mistakes, we remain. If I thought Dario could not drive, he will not run on People's Champion .. He knows what it takes and he is the perfect professional."

Mike Hull, director of the Target Ganassi Racing, said he never met someone like Franchitti.

"People think that mentally he has the body of 20 years," said Hull. "But he has also been the experience that he came every day to work out the most to gain .."

Franchitti has now done more than his two Indy Scottish hero - Jimmy Clark and Jackie Stewart. Indy Clark was one victory coming in 1965. Stewart never won Indy.

"If I win the Indy 500 every year for the rest of my life, I am still not in the same league with Jimmy Clark and Jackie Stewart," said Franchitti. "These people are absolute legends."

Yes they are, but Franchitti sell themselves short. Salvation is a badge of honor. He returned from outside the Fire element and prove he deserves respect.

IndyCar Franchitti is the missing child. He took the wrong road, but he found his way back to where it is located.

"Experience is like a semester at sea Dario NASCAR," Ganassi said. "We did it, but I'm glad we brought him home."


EmoticonEmoticon