Franchitti wrecked when his car apparently lost its right rear tire on the 10th lap of the Nationwide Series race.
His Dodge bounced into the wall and spun down the track, finally drifting down to the apron. It was there that the real damage was done — a car driven by Larry Gunselman slammed into his driver side door.
Franchitti had to be helped from his car and toward an ambulance.
It just might. Look at what her fourth-place finish in the Indianapolis 500 did for her status as an internationally known athlete. Patrick’s victory was yet another compelling reason to watch the IndyCar series this year.
With the two open-wheel series merging, that is just one step toward rebuilding what once was that dominant form of racing in the U.S.
Patrick’s win comes on the heels of another impressive accomplishment — Graham Rahal’s victory.
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“I’m leaning on Colin now and he’s a guy that I’ve gone to just lately and he’s agreed to help me out with my road course racing. I just think he’s unbelievable,” Edwards said. “Our deal is, I can lean on him for road courses stuff and he’s going to lean on me for the oval stuff. But I haven’t seen him race too much on an oval. He might not need any help.”
Braun has plenty of experience as a road course racer, and he excelled Saturday at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
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Mark Martin said last week he was simply “naГЇve” when it came to considering drugs in NASCAR; who would even think to do drugs and then drive? The competitors already know the inherent danger and risk involved in racing, so why would drugs even be an issue? That’s why Fike’s admission hit the Cup garage so strongly.
Drivers interviewed last weekend said they have never been drug-tested by NASCAR. Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr. s
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But despite leading a race-high 120 laps on the mile oval, this one wasn’t secure for the No. 48 Chevrolet until crew chief Chad Knaus gambled on going the last 80 laps without stopping for gas.
When the leaders began diving onto pit road for a splash of gas to get to the end of the Subway Fresh Fit 500, Johnson was in third place, just behind leader Mark Martin and runner-up Denny Hamlin, and not too far ahead of Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“The (NASCAR) community polices the community,” Helton added in an interview with The Associated Press on Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway. “The positiveness of all the drivers talking and everything, I think, echoes the responsibility that exists in this sport to avoid all that and to police all that.
Williams said last week she was dealing with a medical issue when she withdrew from the Bausch & Lomb tournament.
Florida center Marreese Speights declared himself eligible for the NBA draft, though he will not hire an agent and is keeping open the possibility of returning for his junior season.
As he got out of the crumbled car, McDowell waved to the crowd indicating that he was OK.
“I feel great, nothing broke,” McDowell said. “I didn’t lose consciousness. I felt every roll down the hill.”
McDowell said he had “few little bumps and bruises” but was fine other than that.
While McDowell said he didn’t know what happened, he said something “didn’t quite feel right” on the car when he came out of fourth turn on the first lap.
Childress didn’t say Tuesday who will drive his new No. 33 Chevrolet next season, but Labonte’s deal with Petty Enterprises is up at the end of this year. As the 2000 Cup champion, Labonte is extremely attractive to Childress because his past champion status would automatically qualify the car for six races.
Robbie Loomis, executive vice president at Petty Enterprises, has previously said the team has offered Labonte an extension that the driver is considering.
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