IndyCar Series news
Franchitti takes win in crazy Toronto race
12 July 2009 / Results / PhotosDario Franchitti has won the tenth round of the championship in Toronto to bring the curtain down on what has been a dramatic weekend in the first of two Canadian meetings on the calendar. Having started from pole position, the Scot's Target Chip Ganassi car took the chequered flag from Ryan Briscoe and Will Power.
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Out of the 23 starters, only 15 cars made it to the finish in Toronto in a race anticipated as dramatic after chaos hit the venue on Saturday due to a huge storm. With the grid shaken up as a result of a wet track, a more usual result was seen on Sunday with Franchitti leading home two Penskes of Briscoe and returnee Will Power. Reigning Champion Scott Dixon recovered to fourth place but has now lost the championship lead to Franchitti, who has a two-point advantage.
It could have been a good day for Briton Mike Conway, although the Dreyer & Reinbold car ended its day in the wall immediately after being overtaken by local man Paul Tracy, ruining chances for a podium finish. Dutch newcomer Robert Doornbos was the first retirement, however, also ending a strong race from fourth position as a result of gearbox failure on the NHL car. There were to be six more retirements in this incredible race, though, the next being Richard Antinucci after contact with Dan Wheldon.
Back to the start of the race, and drama occurred before the cars were even racing on a weekend where seemingly anything was capable of happening; a touch between Graham Rahal's Newman/Haas/Lanigan and Will Power's Penske resulted in a broken wing for the former and puncture for the latter as Briscoe's Penske also picked up a puncture with the rest of the field bearing down on the incident. Incredibly, no further carnage took place as the rest of the pack got away safely.
There was an emotional moment for the Canadian crowds as compatriots Alex Tagliani and Paul Tracy led the race for their respective Conquest and KV Racing teams, although a collision between the latter and Helio Castroneves' Penske saw both retire in the battle for second place. Tagliani remained in the lead although a caution period which played into Franchitti's hands did the opposite for Alex, who eventually finished in ninth spot.
Unbelievably, more chaos was still to follow as Tony Kanaan went out of the race for Andretti Green with damaged suspension. Mario Moraes then came together with EJ Viso before Moraes' car was collected by Tagliani and Scheckter's in another collision at Turn 3, with the South African out on the spot having led for a short time.
The magic yellow for Franchitti, and overhauling of Tagliani, came as a result of a collision between Rahal and Ed Carpenter; Dario still had to pass Castroneves at this point, however, which he duly did with the Brazilian running wide and being challenged by Tracy; contact was inevitable and put both men out at Turn 4.
Amazingly, amid the pandemonium, Briscoe and Power's Penskes climbed back up to the podium behind Franchitti as Scott Dixon finished fourth in what would appear, without knowledge of the race, as a rather usual result. Justin Wilson, who won for Dale Coyne at Watkins Glen last weekend, rounded out the top five ahead of Danica Patrick.
After a truly bizarre weekend which became more a quest for survival, the next IndyCar event also takes place in Canada as the championship arrives at Edmonton in a fortnight's time.
You can see highlights of the race via GPUpdate TV here
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