Franchitti starts second in openerposted in INDY26 | 03 | 2011

BATHGATE'S DARIO FRANCHITTI will start from second on the grid for the opening race in this year's IndyCar Championship at St Petersburg in Florida.

The 37-year-old Scot, who crashed hi Target Ganassi car earlier in the day, returned to qualifying and finished just 0.3328s behind the Penske of polesitter Will Power. Franchitti's team-mate Scott Dixon starts third.

"After this morning crash, it's great to have come back and qualified on the front row of the grid," Franchitti, who won the title last year for a third time, explained. "The work the guys in the garage did to get me back on track was faintastic."

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Jim McGill