Franchitti fourth in Brazilposted in INDY02 | 05 | 2011

BATHGATE'S DARIO FRANCHITTI recovered from having to pit at the end of the opening lap for a new nose cone to finish fourth in the rain-hit latest round of the IndyCar Championship in Brazil.

Torrential rain which flooded the Sao Paulo street circuit on Sunday meant the race was resumed today, though immediately the race restarted the Monday morning drizzle turned to heavy rain forcing the cars to pit for wet tyres.

Aussie Will Power took advantage of a late pitstop by former Formula One racer Takumo Sato to claim his second win of the season, 4.6723secs ahead of Graham Rahal's Ganassi. Power's Penske team-mate Ryan Briscoe was third, 2.2433s ahead of fourth-placed Franchitti in another Ganassi.

The result means the 37-year-old Scot, the double Indy500 winner and three-times IndyCar champ, surrenders his lead in the 2011 title race. Power now holds a 14-point advantage as the teams turn their attentions to preparing for the Indianapolis 500 on May 29.

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Jim McGill