FYI Sports Fans - Auto Racing: Indianapolis 500 Post Recap and Pictures

INDIANAPOLIS - It was a long and wet road to victory lane, but Dario Franchitti isn't complaining. And if you didn't mind getting soaked a couple of times, the fans shouldn't be complaining either. The 2007 edition of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" played out before a noisey crowd of more than 250,000, had numerous turns that determined the finish order.

"Let's get this thing goin' . . . I've got a mini-camp to get to."

A familiar scene during the afternoon-the red Delphi blower trucks circling the track to try and keep it dry.

Race Day started and ended with rain. Though the 33 cars took the green flag from honorary starter Peyton Manning at the appointed time, the red flag flew on Lap 113 because of a cloud burst that enveloped the racetrack. After a 2-hour, 57-minute delay, Kanaan led the field to the green flag. During the three pace laps, Franchitti pitted because of a right-rear tire puncture

The Andretti Green Racing driver inherited the lead on Lap 155 when teammate Tony Kanaan pitted, and the No. 27 Canadian Club Dallara/Honda/Firestone splashed across the finish line under the yellow/checkered flag combination on Lap 166 as rain doused the huge facility. That proved to be the winning move as the Scotsman was in front when Mother Nature ended things early.

Dario Franchitti (now nicknamed "Super Dario") performs the tradition of kissing the only remaining bricks of the original Indianapolis Brickyard.

"It hasn't sunk in right now," Franchitti said. "To be a member of this club is fantastic. I kind of have half of an idea of what it means to win this race. I'm so happy."
"We cut a tire on debris and we had to make the pit stop," Franchitti said. "I can't believe it. It's the Indy 500." Franchitti became the first Scotsman since Jim Clark to win the famed 500.

Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon was runner-up, while pole sitter and two-time 500-Mile Race winner Helio Castroneves of Team Penske finished third. Sam Hornish Jr., who last year gave team owner Roger Penske his 14th Indy 500 title, finished fourth and Ryan Briscoe in the No. 12 Luczo Dragon Racing car (a Team Penske satellite program), rounded out the top five.

Franchitti was ahead when it counted as rain returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on lap 166 and the Andretti-Green Racing driver scored his first career Indianapolis 500 victory. After being delayed nearly three hours just past the halfway point, wet weather returned to the speedway just 34 laps from the scheduled finish, forcing officials to call the race.

Franchtti's victory, his fifth career IRL win, helped the Andretti-Green Racing team overcome a disappointing day from three other of its members. Kanaan looked like he had the field covered until his late pit stop shuffled him out of the lead.
He then crashed with 44 laps to go, ending his day and dream of winning his first 500.

Marco Andretti, who lost to Sam Hornish, Jr. in a photo finish a year ago, ended his day in a crash as well, winding up flipping on the backstretch after making contact with Buddy Rice. Amazingly, the 20 year old grandson of race legend Mario was not injured in the accident that almost disintegrated his car as it soared through the air.

Here are few pics we caught of Marco's crash. His "walk-away" is a testament as to the safety consciousness of auto racing. And fans can be thankful for retaining fences. There was a lot of stuff flying around out there. In the 1st photo you can see Andretti's car start to roll (the car on the left)

"I'm one lucky guy," Marco was quoted as saying following the race. "I'm so proud of Dario Franchitti."

And team owner Michael Andretti, who came out of retirement for another shot at winning the 500, struggled throughout the day and wound up 24th.

"That's the Indianapolis 500," said Castroneves, who was looking for his third 500 win. "You bet it all. Dario took a gamble. He'll be happy with the result and the paycheck."
Castroneves did think he could have had a chance to run down Franchitti had the raced finished its scheduled distance.

Danica Patrick challenged for the lead late in the race but her last pit stop shuffled her back in the field. She was able to finish eighth, giving her a top ten finish in all three of her Indy 500 starts.

The race saw several one car accidents, including Milka Duno, one of three women who started the 500. Duno spun and hit the wall on lap 65. She was uninjured and listed in 31st place.

Another woman in the race, Sarah Fisher, had some early race trouble but was able to finish the race and was credited with an 18th place finish.

This is what the crowd could see of Dario Franchitti's car as he crossed the line to victory. I don't know why they didn't finish the final laps. Looks like great racin' weather to me.

The Delphi Safety guys saying "Get those cars to the apron-and I mean NOW!"

"Alright boys-let's get that thing loaded up and go cash this big check!"

You can contact Robert Cannon at robert@fyisportsfans.com