This article first appeared in RedMatchday Magazine, Aberdeen Football Club's award-winning publication, on September 29, 2007.In terms of sheer excitement to the last seconds of an entire season, there cannot be many rivals to this year’s IndyCar Series. Entering the seventeenth and final race on September 9, three drivers still had a shot at the title: former winners Scott Dixon (2003) and Tony Kanaan (2004), and Scotland’s Dario Franchitti.
Despite his marriage to actress Ashley Judd, the 34 year old from West Lothian remains largely unknown in the UK where Formula One dominates the racing world. A former Scottish and British junior karting champion, Franchitti had stints in Formula Three and the International Touring Car Championship before debuting in the States in the 1997 CART Champ Car World Series, where he would race until 2003 when his Andretti Green team moved to IndyCar. Despite regular challenges, Franchitti was still chasing that elusive first title. He came close in 1999, finishing the season level on points with Juan Pablo Montoya, but losing out to the Colombian on race wins.
In June, the prospect of a final day decider seemed unlikely with Franchitti comfortably clear in the standings having secured back-to-back wins at Iowa and Richmond to add to his maiden victory in the prestigious Indianapolis 500. Dixon, however, reeled off three straight wins in July to close the gap.
Race 13 at Michigan saw Franchitti involved in a horrific crash when leading late on. Second placed Dan Wheldon clipped Franchitti’s rear tyre causing him to spin sideways. The impact of the ensuing 215 mph hit from Wheldon sent Franchitti airborne, flipping him upside down before landing on the car of Dixon, contact that would send the remaining shell of Franchitti’s car careering into the perimeter wall. Emergency vehicles rushed to the site and, miraculously, Franchitti jumped out of the wreckage unscathed.
He was involved in a similar incident in Kentucky the following weekend caused this time by his own error as he crossed the finishing line in eighth. His team-mate Kanaan, meanwhile, was hauling himself back into contention by staying on the ground and winning both races.
A fourth victory for Dixon in Race 15 overturned Franchitti’s lead, but the Flying Scotsman (in one way more than he would wish) reclaimed top spot when Dixon retired from the penultimate race. Another Kanaan win kept alive the mathematical possibility that he could win overall, but realistically he had resigned himself to helping Franchitti, whose lead over Dixon was so slender that whoever finished ahead of the other would become champion.
The oval circuit at Joliet, Illinois, hosted the final 200 lap race. Despite securing pole position, Franchitti struggled to keep pace early on. Dixon’s car, and that of his Chip Ganassi team-mate Wheldon, looked to be handling the track better than those of the Andretti Green stable. Franchitti held the lead briefly whilst other drivers pitted ahead of him whereas Dixon, with Wheldon in close support, took control as the race entered its final third.
Two yellow flags had allowed Franchitti to stay in touch, but Dixon held the advantage as both men fuelled up with 52 laps remaining. Dixon reclaimed the lead on Lap 184 and, with Wheldon second, looked on course for the title. However, this race was not just to be about who was fastest on the track.
Yellow flag warnings had forced both teams to alter their race strategies and fuel was becoming a major problem for the leaders. With twelve laps remaining, Franchitti received radio orders to ease up on the throttle. It appeared that he would require one further yellow flag if he was to last the race.
Chip Ganassi’s concerns didn’t seem as critical, but Wheldon took the lead with ten laps remaining to allow Dixon to tuck in behind and conserve fuel. On Lap 193 though, Wheldon ran dry leaving Dixon with seven laps to hold on.
Danica Patrick, also racing for Andretti Green, had been in the top six throughout but her influence looked to have ended as she peeled off leaving Franchitti in sole pursuit. Upon entering the pit lane, however, her car spun resulting in a yellow flag until she could be pushed to safety. Whether this was a deliberate ploy will be contended for years, but now Franchitti would go the distance.
The green light came on Lap 198, leaving the entire season hinging on a two-lap shootout with both drivers running on fumes. Franchitti took the high line, but Dixon held the inside as they reached the back straight for the last time. Franchitti tucked in behind and prepared for a final assault as they reached the bend. Unbelievably, as they banked left around the corner, Dixon’s car began to stutter. Franchitti, still tucked in and with a split second to avoid a collision which would hand Dixon the crown, swerved to overtake with yards remaining to the chequered flag.
As his emotional father celebrated and Ms Judd danced around the pit lane clad in a saltire flag, Dixon waited in disbelief for the rescue car to tow him home. Franchitti, meanwhile, didn’t have enough fuel left for his lap of honour and also had to be retrieved before his entourage could embraced the new champion.
Whether Dario will defend his title next year remains to be seen as he is rumoured to be in talks with Chip Ganassi over a multi-year deal in NASCAR, which commands a far greater audience and media attention.
Arsenal’s injury-time heroics at Anfield to clinch the English Football League Title from Liverpool in 1989 may have been dramatic, but has surely been surpassed.
Despite his marriage to actress Ashley Judd, the 34 year old from West Lothian remains largely unknown in the UK where Formula One dominates the racing world. A former Scottish and British junior karting champion, Franchitti had stints in Formula Three and the International Touring Car Championship before debuting in the States in the 1997 CART Champ Car World Series, where he would race until 2003 when his Andretti Green team moved to IndyCar. Despite regular challenges, Franchitti was still chasing that elusive first title. He came close in 1999, finishing the season level on points with Juan Pablo Montoya, but losing out to the Colombian on race wins.
In June, the prospect of a final day decider seemed unlikely with Franchitti comfortably clear in the standings having secured back-to-back wins at Iowa and Richmond to add to his maiden victory in the prestigious Indianapolis 500. Dixon, however, reeled off three straight wins in July to close the gap.
Race 13 at Michigan saw Franchitti involved in a horrific crash when leading late on. Second placed Dan Wheldon clipped Franchitti’s rear tyre causing him to spin sideways. The impact of the ensuing 215 mph hit from Wheldon sent Franchitti airborne, flipping him upside down before landing on the car of Dixon, contact that would send the remaining shell of Franchitti’s car careering into the perimeter wall. Emergency vehicles rushed to the site and, miraculously, Franchitti jumped out of the wreckage unscathed.
He was involved in a similar incident in Kentucky the following weekend caused this time by his own error as he crossed the finishing line in eighth. His team-mate Kanaan, meanwhile, was hauling himself back into contention by staying on the ground and winning both races.
A fourth victory for Dixon in Race 15 overturned Franchitti’s lead, but the Flying Scotsman (in one way more than he would wish) reclaimed top spot when Dixon retired from the penultimate race. Another Kanaan win kept alive the mathematical possibility that he could win overall, but realistically he had resigned himself to helping Franchitti, whose lead over Dixon was so slender that whoever finished ahead of the other would become champion.
The oval circuit at Joliet, Illinois, hosted the final 200 lap race. Despite securing pole position, Franchitti struggled to keep pace early on. Dixon’s car, and that of his Chip Ganassi team-mate Wheldon, looked to be handling the track better than those of the Andretti Green stable. Franchitti held the lead briefly whilst other drivers pitted ahead of him whereas Dixon, with Wheldon in close support, took control as the race entered its final third.
Two yellow flags had allowed Franchitti to stay in touch, but Dixon held the advantage as both men fuelled up with 52 laps remaining. Dixon reclaimed the lead on Lap 184 and, with Wheldon second, looked on course for the title. However, this race was not just to be about who was fastest on the track.
Yellow flag warnings had forced both teams to alter their race strategies and fuel was becoming a major problem for the leaders. With twelve laps remaining, Franchitti received radio orders to ease up on the throttle. It appeared that he would require one further yellow flag if he was to last the race.
Chip Ganassi’s concerns didn’t seem as critical, but Wheldon took the lead with ten laps remaining to allow Dixon to tuck in behind and conserve fuel. On Lap 193 though, Wheldon ran dry leaving Dixon with seven laps to hold on.
Danica Patrick, also racing for Andretti Green, had been in the top six throughout but her influence looked to have ended as she peeled off leaving Franchitti in sole pursuit. Upon entering the pit lane, however, her car spun resulting in a yellow flag until she could be pushed to safety. Whether this was a deliberate ploy will be contended for years, but now Franchitti would go the distance.
The green light came on Lap 198, leaving the entire season hinging on a two-lap shootout with both drivers running on fumes. Franchitti took the high line, but Dixon held the inside as they reached the back straight for the last time. Franchitti tucked in behind and prepared for a final assault as they reached the bend. Unbelievably, as they banked left around the corner, Dixon’s car began to stutter. Franchitti, still tucked in and with a split second to avoid a collision which would hand Dixon the crown, swerved to overtake with yards remaining to the chequered flag.
As his emotional father celebrated and Ms Judd danced around the pit lane clad in a saltire flag, Dixon waited in disbelief for the rescue car to tow him home. Franchitti, meanwhile, didn’t have enough fuel left for his lap of honour and also had to be retrieved before his entourage could embraced the new champion.
Whether Dario will defend his title next year remains to be seen as he is rumoured to be in talks with Chip Ganassi over a multi-year deal in NASCAR, which commands a far greater audience and media attention.
Arsenal’s injury-time heroics at Anfield to clinch the English Football League Title from Liverpool in 1989 may have been dramatic, but has surely been surpassed.
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