By T D Davis
Dario Franchitti said he knows Dan Wheldon is smiling today because three of his best friends finished 1-2-3 in the world's biggest race, The Indy 500.
All three drivers, Franchitti, Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon had said before the race they wanted to win the race in honor of their friend who died in a tragic crash at Las Vegas last year.
After a record number of lead changes, the Indianapolis 500 came down to a shoot out in the last few laps with Franchitti, Kanaan, Dixon and Takuma Sato playing a part in one of the most exciting Indy 500 finishes in years.
With Tony Kanaan bringing the field to the green with six laps to go, Franchitti, Dixon, Sato, pole sitter Ryan Briscoe, Justin Wilson, and James Hinchcliffe all had the top spot in sight. Franchitti grabbed the lead from Kanaan only to have Dixon snatch the lead from him Franchitti regained the top spot taking Sato with him. Sato attempted to pass Franchitti on the inside and when the car's tires touched Sato spun to the outside wall. With the yellow caution flag out, Franchitti got his third Indy 500 win. All have been under caution.
"I just want to dedicate this to two of Indianapolis' finest, Dan Wheldon and Michael Wanser." Franchitti said in victory lane. "Thanks to all of the Indianapolis fans for their tribute to Dan today. What a race. What a race. I think D-dub (Wheldon) would be proud of that one."
(Michael Wanser died last Oct. 23, exactly one week after Dan Wheldon passed away. Wanser was the 6-year-old son of Target Chip Ganassi Racing team manager Barry Wanser. Michael Wanser was suffering from acute myeloid leukemia.)
Concerning the final battle with Sato, Franchitti said, "I moved over, and I saw him coming. I came back over and I moved up the track. He got loose underneath me. Kind of reminds me of Emerson (Fittipaldi) and Little Al (Unser) at the end there. This means the world. This is Indianapolis. To be on this trophy on either side f Dan, that means more than anything. The last week I've been studying my buddy JR's book, Johnny Rutherford gave me his book with a wonderful inscription, and he said he hoped to welcome me to the three-time club. To be in the company of guys like that means so much. What a great race today, to be able to come from the back of the grid after being in the pit lane and being spun."
Sato had a slightly different view of the last lap in incident in turn one.
Sato said he didn't feel Franchitti gave him any room and that caused the cars to touch resulting in his car spinning into the safer barriers. Sato finished 17.
Dixon managed to avoid Sato's spin to finish second with Kanaan third. Servia Oriol was fourth and Briscoe was fifth.
After starting seventh, Josef Newgarden from Hendersonville, TN finished 25th in his rookie race after the engine stopped running on his Dollar General sponsored car on lap 161.
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