Dario Franchitti Wins 91st Indianapolis 500

Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon was runner-up, while pole sitter and two-time 500-Mile Race winner Helio Castroneves of Team Penske finished third.

Dario Franchitti in Victory Circle after winning the 91st Indy 500. Franchitti's Wife actress Ashley Judd looks on. Photo courtesy: indy500.com

INDIANAPOLIS - By: Dave Lewandowski

Courtesy: indianapolismotorspeedway.com

In 2002, Dario Franchitti contended the Indianapolis 500 was an interruption of his CART schedule.

It was the Scotsman's first foray to the historic 2.5-mile ribbon of asphalt with then-Team Green, and "I just didn't get it."

Five years removed, Franchitti is the Indianapolis 500 champion.

"Who would have thought it?" said Franchitti, whose rain-soaked firesuit didn't dampen his enthusiasm as he chugged the traditional winner's bottle of milk in Victory Circle. "I can't believe it. It's the Indianapolis 500."

Andretti Green Racing driver Franchitti inherited the lead on Lap 155 when teammate Tony Kanaan pitted, and the No. 27 Canadian Club Dallara/Honda/Firestone splashed across the finish line under the yellow/checkered flag combination on Lap 166 as rain once again doused the cavernous facility.

Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon was runner-up, while pole sitter and two-time 500-Mile Race winner Helio Castroneves of Team Penske finished third.

Sam Hornish Jr., who last year gave team owner Roger Penske his 14th Indy 500 title, finished fourth, and Ryan Briscoe in the No. 12 Luczo Dragon Racing car (a Team Penske satellite program) rounded out the top five.

Franchitti's sentiments about the "500" began to turn in 2003, when he competed full time in the IndyCar Series with Andretti Green Racing.

He finished where he started (sixth) in 2005 and last year advanced 10 positions to finish seventh.

"When we came here in '02, we were in the middle of a very busy time with the Champ Car schedule," Franchitti said. "We had just swapped from Reynards to Lolas (chassis), and we decided we were going to do the Indy 500 in a car we had no knowledge of. It was a heck of a month. Days I wasn't on track here, I was testing a Lola at Mid-Ohio (Sports Car Course), so I literally had no day off all month.

"I didn't really get it. I knew the history of the '500.' Gradually, the more time I've spent here, culminating in '04 when we qualified on the front row, I said, 'OK, I'm starting to get this.' There's this desire you realize what it means to try to win the '500.' So I've had a turnaround in my feelings for the race."

And the 2007 edition of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" had numerous turns that determined the finish order.

Race Day started and ended with rain.

Though the 33 cars took the green flag from honorary starter Peyton Manning at the appointed time, the red flag flew on Lap 113 because of a cloud burst that enveloped the racetrack.

After a two-hour, 57-minute delay, Kanaan led the field to the green flag. During the three pace laps, Franchitti pitted because of a right-rear tire puncture.

AGR drivers – Kanaan, Danica Patrick and Marco Andretti – took turns on the point during the ensuing 20 laps (Kanaan leading Patrick by 0.4277 of a second on Lap 135).

But the teammates, who last pitted on Lap 100, ducked in for 22 gallons of ethanol and four Firestone Firehawks under green on Lap 137, Franchitti assumed the lead.

It was Jaques Lazier's turn to move to the front when Franchitti pitted on Lap 143, but Kanaan was the leader on Lap 150, 4.1198 seconds ahead of Hornish and turning a lap of 222.645 mph.

It was under yellow due to single-car crash in Turn 3 involving the No. 25 Roth Racing entry driven by Marty Roth when Kanaan's No. 11 Team 7-Eleven rumbled onto pit lane.

Franchitti again assumed the lead, with Dixon on his tail and Briscoe not far behind.

The deal was sealed on a Lap 163 when a multi-car crash on the backstretch, sparked by 2005 winner Dan Wheldon's and Marco Andretti's cars touching wheels.

The cars of Ed Carpenter and Buddy Rice also were involved. As the Delphi Safety Team was clearing the racetrack, the skies opened.

Scott Sharp (No. 8 Patron Sharp Rahal Leterman Racing), Tomas Scheckter (No. 2 Vision Racing), Patrick (No. 8 Team Motorola), Davey Hamilton (No. 02 HP Vision Racing) and Vitor Meira (No. 4 Delphi Panther Racing) filled out the top 10.

"The reason we went for that (fuel) strategy was because we cut a tire on some debris," said Franchitti, who moved to third in the points championship heading to the June 3 race at The Milwaukee Mile. "We had to make the pit stop. I was saving fuel under the yellow. I was saving so much fuel. We rolled the dice. It could have been any one of the five of us (AGR drivers) today. I'm really glad to run the second part (of the race after the rain delay).

"I kind of have half an idea of what it means to win this race now."

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports