Scotland Yard

INDIANAPOLIS – Dario Franchitti’s boat finally came in Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a storm pelted rain across the track in the early evening hours.

The Scotsman with the Italian-sounding name won a dramatic 91st Indy 500, brought to a halt by heavy rain after 166 laps of 200, when his young Andretti Green Racing teammate Marco Andretti hurtled into the outside retaining wall on the back straight on Lap 163, sending him on a terrifying upside down ride across the track, parts spraying and sparks flying.

While emergency crews rushed to Andretti’s aid, the rain came, handing Franchitti, 34, a well-earned victory in his fifth 500 drive.

Second was New Zealander Scott Dixon (Target Chip Ganassi Racing), with Brazil’s two-time Indy 500 champion and pole-sitter Helio Castroneves (Team Penske) third. Sam Hornish Jr. (Team Penske), who won the race in 2006, was fourth.

Franchitti made a victory lap of the 2.5-mile oval in the heavy rain as actress wife Ashley Judd, soaking wet in a summer dress, climbed the pit wall and dashed toward the victory celebration.

Once Franchitti got out of his car, he was mobbed, hugged and kissed by teammates Tony Kanaan, his best friend, Danica Patrick and Michael Andretti.

“I can’t believe it. It’s the Indy 500!” Franchitti said. “To be a member of this club is fantastic. I kind of have half of an idea of what it means to win this race. I’m so happy.”

Franchitti’s average speed was 151.774 mph, far from the record 185.81 mph by Arie Luyendyk in 1990.

It was Andretti Green’s second victory in three years, but that’s about all the good luck the Andrettis have had at Indy since Mario Andretti, Marco’s grandfather and Michael’s father, won in 1969.

Franchitti, was robbed of the race pole on Pole Day early in the month when Castroneves and Tony Kanaan (Andretti Green Racing) made last-minute qualifying runs to relegate him to third position on the grid.

Sunday, he kept fighting, aided by some luck and good pit strategy, to be in the right position at the right time.

“I can hardly believe it,” said Franchitti, whose best previous 500 finish was sixth in 2005.

“It’s awesome. To be a member of this club is fantastic. It could have been any one of the five of us (AGR) today. We rolled the dice.”

Franchitti becomes the second Scotsman to win the 500. Jim Clark won the race in 1965 in a Lotus-Ford.

Franchitti, who was driving the No. 27 Canadian Club Dallara/Honda, hugged a soaking-wet Judd, who stood in the rain to watch her husband drive into the winner’s circle.

Andretti, 20, who was credited with 24th position, knew he was one lucky driver to walk away from his crash, which also took out Buddy Rice (Dreyer & Reinbold Racing).

“I’m going to be bruised, but to come out of that bruised, I’m going to be happy.”

Andretti’s crash occurred after he moved up on Dan Wheldon (Target Chip Ganassi Racing), making contact and shooting into the wall. “But I’m so happy for Dario.”

Kanaan was the hard-luck story of a day – first when rain halted the race for three hours at around 3 p.m. local time.

Then, with Kanaan appearing to have the strongest car, Jaques Lazier (Sam Schmidt Motorsports) lost control of his on Lap 157, hitting the wall in Turn 4.

In trying to avoid him, Kanaan, who started second, ran over debris, cutting a tire and spinning across the track.

Kanaan pitted for repairs, lost track position and any chance of victory.

“I think it is Dario’s day,” said Kanaan, who did everything but win the race. “I did what I could.”

Hopefully, we turn the page over and move on. We’ll get another chance, and hopefully, we’ll get the win.”