FUMES

May 30, 2012

Dario's day.

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

(Posted 5/28, 3:00PM) Detroit. Two years ago, when Dario Franchitti won his second Indianapolis 500, I called him "a champion in every sense of the word." Now that he has won his historic third "500" at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Dario has ascended to true greatness. With four IndyCar championships and 31 IndyCar wins, Dario has secured his place in the record books for years to come. But it has always been about the way Dario conducts himself - on and off the race track - that has made him stand out. Thoughtful, forthright, respectful of tradition and supremely talented, Dario is a serious student of motorsports history, one who understands the legacies and the historic ramifications of those who have come before him. He savors and appreciates every moment of his profession, knowing how truly blessed he is that he is able to do what he loves and do it so exceptionally well. The bottom line is that it's Dario's intense love of the game that makes him so special.

Last Sunday's Indianapolis 500 was one for the ages, but then every time the Memorial Day classic is run, there is history to be made. Franchitti averaged 167.734 mph, the fifth fastest race in Indianapolis 500 history, and there were a record 34 lead changes. Franchitti even had to storm back from deep in the pack after E.J. Viso bumped into him and spun him around in the pit lane on Lap 15. It was a furious race with battles throughout the field and heart-stopping re-starts that were risky and on the edge of disaster several times. Takuma Sato's drive in particular was emblematic of the kind of intense race it was. Sato was absolutely going for it every step of the way, carving his way through the field with daring right-to-the-wall moves and risky passes all day long. His last move on Dario summed up Sato's day perfectly, because when it came right down to it Sato had no intention of finishing second in the biggest race in the world.

The Chevrolet vs. Honda battle was equally intense. Though the teams using Chevrolet Power shined in practice and qualifying, Chip Ganassi's two car team of Franchitti and Scott Dixon served notice that Honda was going to be a factor on race day by being the fastest two drivers in the final practice session. This came after Ganassi curiously didn't send his drivers back out to improve their mid-pack qualifying positions. Sandbagging? Ganassi Racing operatives denied any such thing, but then again we'll never know. But make no mistake, it was clear that the Honda-powered cars had everything they needed and then some on race day.

It was ironic that at the end of the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500, a race that honored the fallen Dan Wheldon throughout the day, it was Wheldon's three closest friends - Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan - who came home 1,2,3. Asked afterward about the emotion of the day, Dario had this to say: "I think racing is emotion. Life is, as well. But racing I think really exemplifies that, if that's the right word. And Vegas was the lowest of the low. Fontana '99 (when Greg Moore was killed) and Vegas last year were the lowest of the low. I think the reason we all got back in the cars, the reasons all the mechanics got back in pit lane, the fans came back to the races, is days like today, the emotion of something like today. That's certainly why I got back in the car. There's not a feeling like standing in Victory Lane there. There isn't."

No there isn't.

As I said two years before, Dario has grown to be one of my all-time favorites because of the way he conducts himself both on and off the track. Here is a guy who held his dreams near and dear to his heart throughout his career. His respect for Jim Clark and his deep appreciation for the history of the sport elevate his standing among his peers in my estimation.

In short, Dario gets it. He understands and appreciates that what he does is something that a lot of enthusiasts wish they could do, and he does so with honor and a deep respect for the historical giants who came before him and who gave so much to the sport he loves. And his sheer joy in what he does is something to behold too. It's not only infectious, but it puts smiles on people's faces who know and understand the sacrifices that he and his family had to make in order for him to succeed at the highest level of the sport.

Once upon a time this sport was filled with sportsmen who raced for the pure thrill of it and who conducted themselves with dignity, honor, a sense of fair play and with a fundamental appreciation for the challenge and the quest. If victory resulted, even better, but it was just as important to compete and strive for greatness and to do so in a manner befitting a champion.

And Dario Franchitti is a champion in every sense of the word.

Congratulations to the entire Chip Ganassi Racing organization on another magnificent Indianapolis 500 win.

And congratulations to Dario Franchitti, a magnificent sportsmen who does the sport of motor racing proud every time he gets behind the wheel.

(Phillip Abbott - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
With his latest Indianapolis 500 victory, Dario Franchitti joins Louis Meyer (1928, 1933, 1936), Wilbur Shaw (1937, 1939, 1940), Mauri Rose (1941, 1947, 1948), Johnny Rutherford (1974, 1976, 1980), Bobby Unser (1968, 1975, 1981) and Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009) as three-time winners. A.J. Foyt (1961, 1964, 1967, 1977), Al Unser (1970, 1971, 1978, 1987) and Rick Mears (1979, 1984, 1988, 1991) are the only four-time winners of the Indianapolis 500.

(Phillip Abbott - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
Scott Dixon congratulates Dario in Victory Lane.

(Michael L. Levitt - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
Dario about to take a swig of the traditional winner's bottle of milk.

(Phillip Abbott - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
Dario and his father George.

(Phillip Abbott - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
Chip Ganassi, Dario and the entire Target Ganassi Racing team celebrate in Victory Lane.

(Phillip Abbott - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
Dario and his wife Ashley Judd back home again in Indiana.

(Phillip Abbott - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
Dario with Team Manager Mike Hull and Chip Ganassi.

(Phillip Abbott - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
Dario & Ashley (with their dogs, Buttermilk and Shug).

(Michael L. Levitt - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
Dario Franchitti, the 2012 Indianapolis 500 Champion.

A few more post-race quotes from Dario:

"It's a team sport. I'm very aware of the fact that the team wins it, myself and all the other members of the team. That includes Honda. We all win it together. I couldn't just jump in any car here. This group of people I get to work with, I know how lucky I am, and I don't take it for granted."

"I don't come in here with any expectations for the race. I work on my car during practice. Scott and I work together very tightly with the Target team. We try to get the fastest, best car we can to go racing. I don't have any expectations. I just go out and do the best job I can. I don't go into it thinking, I'm going to win this one. You've got to let the race come to you. That's what I do."

(On thinking about his standing in motorsports history):

"Maybe when I retire. I think then. I don't know. I don't know. I'm very proud - and I've said this before - of the achievements, whether it's Indy wins, championships, every one of the race wins. Sometimes I look back, but generally I'm trying to look forward. When I retire, that's the time to look back and hang out with my friends here, hang over the fence, shout abuse at Dixie, Will, Tony, all the guys that are still racing. Today I was lucky enough to be in the green room. T.K. and I were sitting together in a quiet corner. Parnelli, Unser, Rutherford came up. This is cool. T.K. and I were getting our pictures taken. We were like a couple of kids. We were with the legends of the sport. I guess the time to look back is when I'm retired."

Editor's Note: See more Indy coverage in "The Line." - WG

Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD

(Courtesy of the Ford Racing Archives)

Indianapolis, Indiana, May 31, 1965. Dario Franchitti's hero, Jim Clark, in a much different "Victory Lane" after winning the 1965 Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Clark received the Borg-Warner Trophy for winning the "500" that year at a record speed of 150.686 mph. Clark drove his No. 82 Lotus Powered by Ford to the win - while getting superb pit service from the famed Wood Brothers - ahead of Parnelli Jones (No. 98 J.C. Agajanian Hurst Lotus-Ford) and Mario Andretti (No. 12 Al Dean Dean Van Lines Hawk-Ford). Clark qualified second to A.J. Foyt - who sat on the pole with a speed of 161.233 mph - and finished the 500 miles almost two minutes ahead of Jones in a dominant performance. Watch the cool video here.

See an excellent video of Dario Franchitti getting a chance to drive Clark's winning Indy Lotus here.

Publisher's Note: Like these Ford racing photos? Check out www.fordimages.com. Be forewarned, however, because you won't be able to go there and not order something. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

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