Dario Franchitti became the third driver in IndyCar Series history to capture the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series championship in the same season as he drove the Canadian Club car to victory at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday. The victory was Franchitti's fourth of the 2007 season and the first career championship for the winningest British driver in American open-wheel racing history.
In Turn 3 on the final lap of the 200-lap event, Scott Dixon, who was still leading, began to run out of fuel. Franchitti went around the 2003 IndyCar Series champion and crossed the finish line in first place, clinching Andretti Green Racing's third IndyCar Series championship in four seasons.
"We came down that backstretch and I was drafting him trying to get a slingshot. Just as I pulled out I saw him slow down and I almost hit the back of him as I was just going out," Franchitti said.
Yep. I guess he is heading to greener pastures in NASCAR. Be interesting to see how he blends into the NASCAR racing. Another Montoya or another Stewart.
Falcons-
What do you think of CCR's blog on IRL decision to pay all the racers the same regardless of finish?
I think it will be very interesting to see how JPM and Dario get on. Seems like just from watching Dario his personality is a lot less abrasive than JPM's.
Next season in NASCAR is going to to be a doosey!
Falcons; if only you could read all the #### that's been written here about that race. All the conspiracy theories about how they didn't get enough fuel in Scott's car, etc....load of rubbish if you ask me. The best driver of the year (and consistant) won the title, end of story
shouldn't surprise anyone really, NZ tends to be rather poor losers *shrugs*
I don't think we can be sure we will see him in NASCAR. He may drive for Penske with Castroneves as Hornish goes to NASCAR in a Penske car. But we may very well see him in the 40. He wil have to adjust to stockcars. I think Montoya will do much better next year and that it will take Sam or Dario a year to adjust.
I perused the introduction of the article. It doesn't bother me. The money is in the endorsements and the bonus money you get anyway. IRL could use a larger field in my opinion. If they are making that part of the deal, and the cars can run up to speed at a safe pace, that might be good.
Last edited by 14Falcons on September 12th at 8:01 PM.
Most conspiracy theoris are BS in my opinion anyway. That doesn't mean I won't start one or further it for grins though. Your man had a great season and came up one-third of a lap short. Tough break. But Dario just played it smarter.
My mom was visiting and I still jumped up out of my Lazy Boy lounge chair and hopped up and down shouting something like, "Son of a ####! He won the damn thing! He won it! Woohhoo!"
She is from Tennessee so she knows he lives in Nashville and understands, but she likes Danica. I took mom to the KC IRL race last summer. Mom called me Labor day weekend while watching the Detroit race and said she wanted to do that sometime. We might make that happen in another year too. Last night I told her I would buy Falcons - Titans tickets if she wanted to fly me down. :)
Dario is the anti-JPM. IF he goes to NASCAR, he will be a completely different type of driver. They are both very smooth on the pedals, but JPM is clearly aggressive with competitors, while Dario is as, well, ... gentlemanly as they get. Not sure that plays well in NASCAR - and not sure that Dario will be able to adjust to the "rubbin' is racin' (unless you're a furriner)" brand of racing that is NASCAR.
Always figured Hornish would leave. Franchitti is a big surprise to me - never figured him to be a NASCAR type driver (still can't see it).
Very nice to see close competition for the season championship, although would have liked to see them racing to the finish line over having fuel strategy dictate the champion (I know, you're right, ... it's still a very important part of racing ... just not as sexy as racing to the line for the win).
Best of luck to you. Indy is a GREAT place to live.
Having said that, we're moving to Seattle in two or three months - took a new position with a corporation that has its Americas operations headquartered there.
I'm fairly well connected here in Indy. If you want to chat about the company you're interviewing with (maybe I know the HR or leadership staff too ...) I'd be glad to do so - just send me an IM if you want to do that.
As it happens, I'll be flying to Seattle on the 24th, 25th, and 26th; otherwise, I'd also be happy to meet up with you. Maybe another time.
A great firm. I don't know anyone in it, but have used them to design/redesign parking at some of the hospitals where I've been - top reputation in the field (as I'm sure you know better than me).
Best of luck to you. If you land the gig, and need advice on housing/recreation/etc., feel free to check in with me. Housing is still a great bargain here in Indy, and there are plenty of terrific restaurants, bars, etc. (I strongly prefer living on the north side of the city - or downtown).
Hospitals are a big client for them. I have done a little work for hospitals myself. I found myself between a hospital and their heart surgeons one time. That was interesting.
... happens a lot. Groups of physicians negotiating with hospitals for stuff they want, usually by threatening to form their own hospital or clinic (and often doing so, or forming a joint venture with the hospital) ... probably where you were stuck in the middle, eh?
There was a street running between the hospital and the clinics. The hospital wanted to make the street more user friendly with streetscape amenities and such that as a traffic engineer might have caused me some heartburn. The street wasn't a vital street, given it served only the hospital and clinics. I proposed giving the street to the hospital, since it essentially served as their driveway anyway. They loved it.
But the doctor's hated it. They were afraid the hospital would close the street. The doctors seemed silly to me.
"But all this must be suffered by those who profess the stern order of chivalry" Most Interesting Blog, June 16, 2008 and six other occasions. Lisa awarded him Best "breaking news" blogger March 31, 2008. Blog of The Day, Christmas Day, 2007. edhardiman wrote, "Falco's tribute to Rocket Richard reminds us all the stars of today stand on the shoulders of giants..." October 23, 2007. Three Golden Swirrly p00p Awards (Hockey, NASCAR and Use of Graphics), FlyingPig, July 18, 2007. 2007 Memorial Day Weekend Trifecta sponsored by williamwilman . Featured on WFORacingFans April, 2007. "Stylin'" award, Dusty, February 07. "One of ten new bloggers to watch" Dudski, January 2007.
