Dario Franchitti Earns $1,645,233
Dario Franchitti earned $1,645,233 from a record purse of $10,668,815 for his victory May 27 in the 91st Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. Franchitti became only the second Scotsman to win the Indianapolis 500 in an exciting, rain-shortened race. It was Franchitti's first victory in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," in his fifth start. Franchitti's winnings and the total purse were announced May 28 during the Indianapolis 500 Victory Celebration at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His win in the No. 27 Canadian Club Dallara/Honda/Firestone gave Andretti Green Racing its second Indianapolis 500 victory in the past three years.
This year's event purse broke the record of $10,518,565 set in 2006. This is the sixth consecutive year the overall purse for the field of 33 drivers has exceeded $10 million. The event purse is comprised of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indy Racing League and sponsor awards, and other designated awards. Buddy Rice earned the record driver's payout of $1,761,740 in 2004.
Franchitti, a 34-year-old native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and resident of Nashville, Tenn., led three times for 34 laps and inherited the lead on Lap 155 when teammate Tony Kanaan pitted. A multi-car accident on the backstretch brought out the caution on Lap 163, and Franchitti crossed the Yard of Bricks beneath the yellow and checkered flag on Lap 166 in a heavy downpour. The race featured 23 lead changes among nine drivers. Tony Kanaan led the most laps with 83.
Scott Dixon, in the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, earned $719,067 for finishing an Indy 500 career-best second. Two-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves crossed the finish line in third place in the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone and earned $646,303. Phil Giebler, driver of the No. 31 Ethos Fuel Reformulator Panoz/Honda/Firestone, was awarded the prestigious Indianapolis 500 Chase Rookie of the Year Award and its $25,000 bonus. Giebler finished the race in 29th place following an accident that forced his retirement after completing 106 laps. At the Victory Celebration, Kanaan received the Scott Brayton Driver's Trophy, presented since 1997 to the driver who best exemplifies the character and racing spirit of the late Scott Brayton. The 92nd Indianapolis 500-Mile Race is scheduled for May 25, 2008.
Dario Franchitti Wins Indy 500
Dario Franchitti became the second Scotsman to win the Indianapolis 500, claiming victory in a rain-shortened 91st running of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." -- The Andretti Green Racing driver, who joins Jim Clark as the only Scottish drivers to win the race, 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 cavernous facility. "Who would have thought it?" said Franchitti, whose rain-soaked firesuit didn't dampen his enthusiasm as he chugged the traditional winner's bottle of milk in Victory Circle. "I can't believe it. It's the Indianapolis 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. The 2007 edition of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," played out before a boisterous crowd of more than 250,000, had numerous turns that determined the finish order. 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.
AGR drivers - Kanaan, Danica Patrick and Marco Andretti - took turns on the point during the ensuing 20 laps (Kanaan leading Patrick by 0.4277 of a second on Lap 135). But when the teammates, who last pitted on Lap 100, ducked in for 22 gallons of ethanol and four Firestone Firehawks under green on Lap 137, Franchitti assumed the lead. It was Jaques Lazier's turn to move to the front when Franchitti pitted on Lap 143, but Kanaan was the leader on Lap 150 (4.1198 seconds ahead of Hornish and turning a lap of 222.645 mph). It was under yellow (single-car crash in Turn 3 involving the No. 25 Roth Racing entry) when Kanaan's No. 11 Team 7-Eleven rumbled onto pit lane. Franchitti again assumed the lead, with Dixon on his tail and Briscoe not far behind.
The deal was sealed on Lap 163 when a multi-car crash on the backstretch, sparked by the Nos. 10 (2005 winner Dan Wheldon) and 26 (Marco Andretti) cars touching wheels. The cars of Ed Carpenter and Buddy Rice also were involved. As the Delphi Safety Team was clearing the racetrack, the skies opened. Scott Sharp (No. 8 Patron Sharp Rahal Leterman Racing), Tomas Scheckter (No. 2 Vision Racing), Patrick (No. 8 Team Motorola), Davey Hamilton (No. 02 HP Vision Racing) and Vitor Meira (No. 4 Delphi Panther Racing) filled out the top 10.
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(Speed News Now)
George Foreman Invests In Panther Racing
Two-time IndyCar Series Champions Panther Racing announced today that two-time heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman and his sons will become the team’s newest co-owners. Foreman, a 1968 Olympic gold medalist and an ordained minister, is making his first return to professional sports since he retired from boxing in 1997.
Panther has won 22 races and three championships in the IndyCar- and Indy Pro Series, making it one of the most successful teams in the history of the league. In addition to 15 race victories and IndyCar Series championships in 2001 and 2002, the team has collected seven wins and the 2003 championship in the developmental Indy Pro Series. The team is currently in preparations for the 91st Running of the Indianapolis 500, where it will feature NASCAR driver John Andretti, who is making a one-race return to Indy-car racing, Kosuke Matsuura – 2004 Rookie of the Year at Indianapolis – and Vitor Meira, who finished second in the Indy 500 in 2005.
The Foreman’s join an ownership group that includes Barnes, who was the youngest Chief Mechanic in Indianapolis 500 history at 26, and former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh, who is currently the head football coach of Stanford University. George Jr. and brother George III serve as vice presidents of George Foreman Enterprises, the highly successful marketing company founded by their father, George Sr. They have also founded their own successful investment company, JR3, which has strategic investments in a diverse portfolio of industries including real estate, apparel, exercise equipment, sporting goods, financial services, entertainment, and music.
Tracy Recovered From Back Injuries
Paul Tracy has been given the green light to return behind the wheel of his #3 INDECK Champ Car after suffering a compression fracture to his first lumbar vertebrae during practice for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in April. The 2003 Champion began his recovery process only a couple of days after his accident by continuing with his strict fitness routine which includes cycling for over 50 miles a day under the hot Nevada sun. Last week Tracy visited Dr. Trammell in Indianapolis who reviewed the latest X-rays and gave him the approval to drive the 750 horsepower turbocharged DP01.
Forsythe Championship Racing is also pleased to announce that Oriol Servia, who replaced Tracy for the Long Beach and Houston events recording impressive 2nd and 4th place results, will return to the Forsythe Team to take over the driving duties of the #7 INDECK Champ Car at the Mazda Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland Presented by Joe’s Sports and Outdoors.
Castroneves Wins "Pit Stop Challenge"
Teammates Helio Castroneves and Sam Hornish Jr. squared off in the final round of the "Pit Stop Challenge" at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday. Castroneves had two blistering rounds to eliminate his competition to this point and even though he killed his engine on the start, he was the victor anyway. The competition is from the time the competitor crosses the starting line until the driver crosses the finish line. So despite the miscue, Castroveves was the winner over Hornish Jr., 8.335 seconds to 8.888 seconds. It was the second straight win for Castroneves and his third overall. Castroneves also won in 2002, when he went on to win the Indianapolis 500. It is the 10th victory in the event for Penske Racing.
Winning Indy 500 Crew Chief Will Get Motorcycle
The crew chief whose mechanical skill helps a driver win the 91st Indianapolis 500 will be presented the Honda Motorcycle Indy 500 Winning Crew Chief Award, a Honda Valkyrie Rune cruiser motorcycle. Matt Jonsson of Team Penske won the award and a Valkyrie Rune last year for helping Sam Hornish Jr. capture a thrilling, last-lap victory in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." With the Honda Valkyrie Rune, cruiser styling is taken to all-new heights and blended seamlessly with Honda's most advanced technology. The motorcycle features an 1832cc liquid-cooled, horizontally-opposed six-cylinder engine, a five-speed transmission and a shaft final drive.
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