Fifty years ago, a wreath was placed around Jim Rathmann’s neck in Victory Circle at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to start another Indianapolis 500 tradition. Dario Franchitti, a motorsports historian, savors the heritage of the Speedway and soaks up the ceremony of the 500 Mile Race, which celebrates its centennial in 2011.
So the Scot especially has enjoyed the customs during his two trips to Victory Circle. Though both wins have come under caution, the swig of milk (a tradition started in 1936) still tastes as sweet.
Franchitti handed Target Chip Ganassi its fourth Indy 500 victory in a dominating performance under a searing sun (90 degrees at the green flag) and worldwide spotlight – 45 years after his hero, Jim Clark, won at Indy.
“This tastes just as good the second time,” said Franchitti, who in 2007 won the race shortened 34 laps because of rain. “To come back from a year away and win the championship and then win the Indy 500 it just means so much.” IndyCar.com
The wins, Franchitti said, are like “comparing our two dogs. You can’t.”
Laughing, he added, “We need a third dog.”
Sunday, Franchitti joined Helio Castroneves as the only active drivers with more than one Indy victory. Castroneves lost his chance to win a record-tying fourth when he stalled his car during a pit stop on lap 144.
Franchitti led 155 of the 200 laps and controlled most of the race. But he didn’t have a victory waltz; it was more of a soft shoe.
Low on fuel in the final laps, Franchitti slowed down as much as he could while trying to keep Dan Wheldon and others at bay.
Wheldon finished second for the second straight year. Franchitti made Chip Ganassi, a four-time Indy winner, the first car owner to win this race and the Daytona 500 in the same year. Jamie McMurray was the driver in the latter, in February. Indianapolis Star
``He’s hogging all the trophies,’’ Franchitti said, joking.
Said Ganassi: ``I didn’t drive either car, didn’t change any tires, didn’t put fuel in any cars. I have hundreds of people to do that. I’m very lucky is what it comes down to. I’m just a guy who gets my name on the door, the sign in the front.’‘
Castroneves, trying to become the fourth driver to win the 500 four times in his career, was knocked off the lead by Franchitti on the first lap of the race. Castroneves led for the first time on Lap 189, but when he came in for a splash of ethanol and new tires a few laps later, it ended this year’s chance to join A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears atop the Indy 500 record book.
Kanaan was trying to make history by becoming the first driver to win the race from the last spot on the grid. Kanaan was in second place when he pulled in on Lap 196 for fuel, hoping he still would have a shot at chasing down Franchitti.
``We took a gamble,’’ Kanaan said.
``I knew he was going to be struggling. My spotter told me to go and run him down,’’ Wheldon said. ``I thought I could pick him off, but then the yellow [flag] came out, and I knew Dario was safe. I did try to push him, just in case he would run out.’’ MiamiHerald.com
After video review of the final lap incident and when the caution lights were activated, Marco Andretti was confirmed the third-place finisher and Alex Lloyd advanced 22 positions to finish a career-high fourth.
Scott Dixon, the 2008 race winner, finished fifth and Danica Patrick, who provided Internet fodder a week earlier with comments relating to her qualifying result (she started 23rd) finished sixth in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com car for Andretti Autosport. Dreyer & Reinbold’s Justin Wilson, who led 11 laps late in the race, finished seventh (the first time in three ‘500s’ he’s finished). Indianapolis Star
Brazil’s Tony Kanaan finished 11th after starting last in the 33-car field. He moved as high as second, less than half a second behind.
His chance of becoming the first driver in 94 years of the Indy 500 to go from worst to first ended when he had to go to the pits for a splash of fuel with four laps remaining.
“I hope I made it exciting out there,” Kanaan said. AFP
Click Here to Read More:
IndyCar Series: Indianapolis 500 - Post Race Notes
Interview With 94th Indianapolis 500 Winner Dario Franchitti, Chip Ganassi and Mike Hull
Dan Wheldon Takes Stunning Second in 94th Indianapolis 500
Team Andretti Autosport: Indianapolis 500 - Drivers’ Post Race Quotes
IndyCar Series: Indianapolis 500 - Drivers’ Post Race Quotes
IZOD IndyCar Series: Indianapolis 500 - Race Results
Interview With 94th Indianapolis 500 Race Runner-up Dan Wheldon
Interview With 94th Indianapolis 500 Race Third Place Finisher Marco Andretti
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