Franchitti Wins Rain Shortened Indy 500
By Todd McClamroch in News on May 29, 2007 11:57AM
Chicagoist checked out the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. Dario Franchitti, actress Ashley Judd’s husband, became the second Scot in history to win the 500 mile race as he was in the lead when a strong rain shower ended the race after 166 of 200 laps.
Rain threatened the race all day but the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track crew were able to dry the track after morning showers to get the race started on time. Thirty-three drivers heard the call for "Ladies and gentleman, start your engines". This year’s race included an unprecedented three women: Milka Duno, Sarah Fisher, and Danica Patrick.
The race started smoothly with Tony Kanaan sneaking past pole-sitter Helio Castroneves in the first turn to take the lead on lap one. During the first 40 laps the two drivers would take turns leading the field. It was not until after the 40th lap that drivers like Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and defending champion Sam Hornish Jr. began taking turns leading the race.
As the racers passed the halfway mark more storms quickly approached the speedway. With over half the race completed if rain prevented the race to continue the leader at the time the race was called would be declared the winner so teams were pushing hard to get to the front before the showers made it to the track. On lap 107, during a restart after a caution, Tony Kanaan passed Marco Andretti in turn one reclaiming the lead just moments before Phil Giebler crashed in turn one bringing another caution. As crews cleaned up the wreck the rains began and the race was stopped on lap 113. At the time it was unclear if the weather would improve allowing the race to continue or if Tony Kanaan would be declared the winner. After a nearly three-hour wait the track was dried and the cars were restarted.
As the race restarted a crowd favorite Danica Patrick vaulted up to second place bringing cheers from the crowd. Dario Franchitti suffered a flat tire that required him to make an unplanned pit stop that took him out of the pit stop cycle of the other race contenders, something that would come back to be a blessing. The race continued with a total of 23 lead changes including Dario Franchitti taking the lead on lap 155 as the top cars needed to pit for fuel, something Franchitti did not need at the time due to his earlier, unplanned pit. Minutes later, after the worst crash of the day in which Marco Andretti's car flipped into the infield, the rains returned and Dario Franchitti, the leader at the time, was declared the winner of the rain shortened race under caution on lap 166 of 200.
The Indy Racing League comes to Chicagoland Speedway on September 9th for the Chicagoland Indy 300.