 Franchitti celebrates his latest success with film star wife Ashley Judd |
Scotsman Dario Franchitti captured his second consecutive IndyCar season title at Saturday's Indy 300. Franchitti finished in eighth place to amass a total of 602 points for the 17-race campaign. Australian Will Power led the standings going into the final race but damaged his car by brushing the outer wall. "We had to car to win. I just had to play it conservatively to win the title," said Franchitti, who began the final event in pole position. Power, who was the front-runner since June 20, finished five points behind in second place overall, while New Zealand's Scott Dixon was third, 55 points off the pace with Brazil's Helio Castroneves fourth, 71 points adrift. Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Franchitti has now won three season titles in four years, missing out only in 2008 for an ill-fated move to US stock cars. And he is the first back-to-back champion since American Sam Hornish in 2001 and 2002. Franchitti becomes only the fifth driver to win the Indy 500 and the IndyCar season crown in the same season. As well as the Indy 500, the Scot triumphed in the races at Chicago and Mid-Ohio.
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