European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 1, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 38 stars and stripes june 2007 Franchitti fire returns indy 500 Champion enjoying racing again by Mike Harris the associated press at the end of the 2005 in Tycar Dario Franchitti had to do some soul the scotsman had come Back from two serious injuries and won 15 open wheel races while competing first in cart and then in the rival indy car but he was no longer looking Forward to getting into the race i want sure How much More i wanted to the new Indianapolis 500 Winner i want that crazy about racing on ovals and the spark was kind of part of his frustration was Fin Afa ing sixth in the 2005 indy where he led five times for 15 laps and thought he should have it was 40 years since Jimmy Clark had won it and Jackie Stew my old Boss another one of my came out and watched the Chitti referring to two other scottish it was looking Good for a while it didst turn out and i want very at the end of that after Franchitti had closed the year with a Victory at California Speed he sat Down with Andretti Green racing team owners Michael Kim Green and Kevin Savoree to discuss his fun i was feeling Good about the but i want sure about Franchitti i decided to come Back and see what would with the fairly average year we had last my motivation came Back Stron Ger than i Felt it Franchitti is now the Champion career highlights cart 1998three 1999 three victories tied Juan Pablo Montoya for series title but lost on tie breaker Montoya had seven 2002 three victories fourth in series standings 19th in Indianapolis irl 2004 two victories four to six re sults sixth in series 2005 two victories finished fourth in series 2006 three to five finishes eighth in series standings missed last race of season because of injuries sustained in sportswear 2007 won indy 500 currently third in series three Points behind Leader Scott Olson and two behind Dan source Marc Dario Franchitti Waves As he Heads toward his Victory Celebration sunday after winning the Indianapolis of the worlds richest open wheel event along with the Monaco grand its most you i was still in Shock for a Franchitti said the Day after winning the rain Short ened indy he spent several hours that morning posing with the Borg Warner trophy and his win Ning cars for photos on the tracks main each Winner has his name etched into trophy and his face emblazoned on it All kind of made sense when i turned around and looked at the Franchitti i saw some of the names on the trophy and then i was in if s a hum bling it All might have slipped away if he had decided to walk away after a year in which All the agr Drivers struggled Drivers from team Penske and Chip Ganassi racing dulled for most of the wins and the Franchitti knew there was a lot of work ahead if his team was going to become truly competitive but there were two compelling reasons for continuing Best Friend and teammate Tony Kanaan and Marco Andret the 20yearold son of the team Tony kept telling me the Best was still ahead for me and the Franchitti and an other thing that really helps is having a 20yearold teammate to see life to and i Are old married men to see things through mar cos eyes is pretty some Hes like my Little brother other Hes my team mate who helps me As much As Michael who finished 13th last sunday in what he says will be his last indy is just Happy Franchitti is still part of his it seemed like it got old for Andretti but the Middle of last he started to get rejuvenated i think maybe it was going too easy for the since he has really applied he has helped get us to where we Are today because of him pushing us and helping guide us in the right its really Good to see that fire under in hoping Hes wanting to stay and keep this will turn it around for Franchitti Heads to the Milwaukee mile for sundays Abc sup Foyt the sixth race of the indy car Only three Points behind series Leader Scott the indy 500 and two behind Dan the closest Franchitti has come to a title was in 1999 when he tied with Juan Pablo Montoya at the top of the cart Montoya got the title with More race victories to fran Whittis that elusive championship May be i started thinking about Mil Waukee and the championship when they moved the cars outside to take pictures on and then they told me in Only 23 Points out of the he but its Early no matter what fran Chitti is having fun i think of anything that id rather be doing he me Tel cur race 13 autism Speaks 400 at Dover Downs into Speedway sunday last race Casey Mears up his Job Security by stretching his fuel to the finish line to win the coca cola 600 for his first Sextel cup struggling through his first season at Hendrick ran Strong and took the Lead when others ducked onto pit last year Matt Kenseth collected his first Sextel cup Victory at Dover International Speedway and second Victory of the Driver to watch Kenseth struggled for four races until Fin Ishing fifth last he won the last race at Dover and has finished in the top 10 three straight times at the Driver standings after 12 of 36 races Jeff Jim re Matt Denny Haroln Jeff Tony Stewart Kevin Carl Kurt chit Kyle Jamie Date Earnhardt Mark Martin Truex Bobby Ryan Gree Emott Busch series this week aaa insurance 200 at noon last race Kasey Kahne raced to his first Victory the pulling away on a late restart to Victory at Lowes motor last Tan Jeff Burton had the biggest Victory Ever in a Busch overcoming a 36thplace starting Posi Tion for his second Victory of the Bur tons average Speed was the fastest Spring Busch race since Dale earn Hardt track record of in next race Federated Auto parts june craftsman trucks this week aaa insurance 200 at last race Dennis Setzer outwitted the Competition for his 17th career craftsman truck series running the entire rain delayed Ohio 250 without a pit Stop at Mansfield motor sport last Yean Mark Martin won the aaa insurance 200 at the monster when he led 86 of 200 laps on his Way to the next race Sams town june fort for More coverage indy r a i no this week Foyt 225 at West 4 am last race Dario Franchitti gambled on the rain and won the indy he inherited the Lead by staying on the track when the leaders pitted for he then drove to the last Yean Tony Kanaan held off a Fate charge by Sam Hornish to win at the Mil Waukee next race Bombardier june fort one last race Fernando Alonso won the Mona co grand becoming the first Driver to win Bac Toback races in Monte Carlo for different next race Canadian grand june cars last race Sebastien Bourdas raced to his second grand prix of Houston Victory on april 22 Ana grabbed the inside track for his fourth consecutive Champ car the Frenchman earned his 25th career win in his 62nd i dominance of the a vow vim we Vemi Iii 62nd his unprecedented dominance of the next race Joes grand june port standings for other series on Page
