Dario Franchitti Archives - The Weekly Driver

Dario Franchitti retires after doctors’ crash concerns

Dario Franchitti, the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time IndyCar titlist, retired November 14 upon his doctors’ recommendations in the aftermath of his crash about five weeks ago in Houston,Texas. Franchitti, 40, fractured his spine, broke his right ankle and suffered a concussion in the Oct. 6 IndyCar race. Franchitti’s car made contact with Takuma Sato’s vehicle on the last lap and sailed into a fence. Debris from the accident injured 13 fans in the grandstands and one IndyCar official. “One month removed from the crash and based upon the expert advice of the doctors who have treated and assessed my head and spinal injuries post-accident, it is their best medical opinion that I must stop racing,” Franchitti said, according

Motorsport

Dario Franchitti wins Indy 500 for third time, honors Dan Wheldon

Dario Franchitti, 39, of Scotland, who May 27 won the Indianapolis 500, joined a select fraternity of the drivers who’ve won the event three times. With his third winner in yellow-flag circumstances, Franchitti joins Louis Meyer, Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser and Helio Castroneves as triple winners. “Thank all the fans for saluting our Dan (Wheldon) today,” said Franchitti, who was one of deceased driver’s closest friends. “What a race. What a race. I was side by side with Takuma (Sato). We hit and I managed to keep it out of trouble.” Franchitti’s third win occurred on a record-breaking day with more lead changes in the race than in any previous Indy 500 race. The victory also