Franchitti wins Indy500posted in INDY27 | 05 | 2012
BATHGATE'S DARIO FRANCHITTI has joined an exclusive group after winning America's Blue Riband race, the Indianapolis 500, for the third time today.
And the 39-year-old Scot, who came from last place to clinch his third win in six years, immediately dedicated the win to his close friend Dan Wheldon.
The Englishman, who won the Indy500 last year, was killed in the final race of last season's IndyCar Championship in Las Vegas.
"This one's for Dan," a tearful Franchitti said, as the bagpipes played in the background, minutes after downing the traditional quart of milk in the winner's circle.
"I know Dan's up there watching me, and I know he would have been proud of the way I won this race."
Wheldon's wife, Susie — making her first visit to any racetrack since her husband's death on October 16 — visited Victory Lane to congratulate Franchitti who wore a pair of white sunglasses in tribute to Wheldon because they were his preference. She then sat next to Franchitti's Hollywood wife, Ashley Judd, in the backseat of the convertible — the same seat she had occupied 12 months ago — for the victory lap round the track.
"What a race, what a race. I can't quite believe what's just happened," Franchitti, who won previously in 2007 and '10, said after finishing ahead of his Target Ganassi team-mate Scott Dixon.
"At one stage, when I was back in last position, I thought the race had gone. But the great thing about motorsport is, you never know what's round the corner."
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Franchitti's race had looked to be over when his car was hit from behind by KV Racing's EJ Viso in the pitlane and spun while approaching his pit box.
But the Scot, who has also been crowned IndyCar champ four times, regrouped and slowly picked his way through the 33-car field.
Franchitti eased himself into the lead for the first time on lap 151 of the 200-lap race on the famous 2.5-mile superspeedway.
But there was further drama when Takuma Sato got alongside Franchitti in the first corner of the final lap.
The Japanese former F1 driver though didn't allow himself enough space on the inside of the track and he bounced off Franchitti's car and into the wall.
The incident brought out the yellow caution flags and Franchitti drove unchallenged to the finish. All three of the Scot's wins have finished under yellow flag conditions.
And first to congratulate him was his wife, Ashley Judd, who paid tribute to Franchitti's parents, and former F1 world champs Sir Jackie Stewart and Jim Clark.
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"Three is just such an extraordinary achievement," an understandably emotional Judd said. "What he did today was awesome. Marina and George Franchitti raised one hell of a racing driver.
"Sir Jackie Stewart brought him up right and guided him through his early career: and I know Indy500 winner Jim Clark is looking down on him.
"I am so proud of him. I said to Dario today when he got in the car, 'I will see you in the winner's circle'. I knew it. He's a legend."
And Franchitti's team boss Chip Ganassi added his congratulations to the Scot.
"He's some guy," the big American beamed. "I never doubted when we were back in 33rd and last place that he would come through and compete at the finish.
"But, to be honest, to win? Well that's what dreams are made of: and we're living the dream just now."
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Franchitti, a global ambassador for watchmaker TW Steel and who earlier in the day had watched his cousin Paul di Resta finish seventh in the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, too was overwhelmed by his third victory.
"To win this race once is a fantastic achievement," Franchitti, whose win was his first of the season, continued.
"But to win it twice, and then for a third time is really what dreams are made of.
"This year has been a difficult one for us. We've struggled with set-up and pace, but today everything came together for us: for Target Ganassi, for our engine supplier Honda, and for me.
"But this is testament to all the hard work the guys in the Target Ganassi team have done throughout the year. We win together, and we lose together. Tonight I think we'll party together."
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Jim McGill