With just a few laps to go, Dario Franchetti’s strategy to save fuel and avoid the pit stop’s looked like it might cost him, as Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan were fast gaining on him.

“The guys (Target Chip Ganassi Racing) were like, Right, just get to the finish. Just see if you’ll get to the finish,” said Franchetti

But luckily for Dario, one time race leader Mike Conway suffered a nasty crash on the penultimate lap in turn four when his IndyCar went airborne and tore apart as though it were just made of cardboard as it whipped through the air.

With that crash, out came the yellow flag, and Franchetti was able to coast his way to victory lane with win number two at the Indianapolis 500.

“The Target car was good. But (it was a) great day. To win two of these things is pretty damn special,” said Franchetti.

It was not the day Helio Castroneves, winner of the previous Indy 500 and the racer who started on the pole.

He battled through some put crew mistakes on his Team Penske car, as well as some very hot weather. It was at one point 96 degrees in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a new Indy 500 record.

“Unfortunately, silly mistakes put us in the back. I’m very disappointed,” said Castroneves. “I’m more disappointed with the mistake. Certainly, I am very upset for my guys. They did an incredible job the whole month long. They should walk out of here with their heads high.”

Helio was the easy favorite heading into the race, after not only winning the pole but also winning the Pit Stop Challenge, and he was joined at the top of the starting grid by Team Penske teammates Will Power (middle of row one) and Ryan Briscoe (inside of row two).

Just after starting the race, on turn two veteran driver Davey Hamilton spun out, and the yellow caution flag came out. It ended up being the end of the day for Hamilton, a major disappointment for him.

On the day there were nine cautions bringing out the yellow flag through out the race.

Meanwhile just before the yellow had come out, Franchetti had taken the lead position, and kept it for 155 laps total, including 69 laps in the middle of the race.

While Franchetti had the dominant car in front, it was a battle from behind for Tony Kanaan, who started in the last spot due to making changes on his car before the race.

However he slowly but surely battled his way forward and surged towards the reeling Franchetti towards the end of the race.

“I hope I made it exciting out there,” said Kanaan, who finished the day in 11th after pitting late in the race. “I promised them [the fans] a good start, and I think I did that. I have been in many positions for this race, and I don’t think the fastest car wins all the time. I think we had a shot for a win.”

But his late charge just came up short, and he had to go to the pits for some fuel with just four laps to go.

In the end, it was Dario’s day to win his second, and join the likes of his idols and UK racing legends Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart.

“I could win races, Indy 500s, for the rest of my life, till I’m 70 years old, and I still wouldn’t be in the same vein as Jim Clark or Jackie Stewart. Those guys are absolute legends. I’m in awe of both of them.”

Target Chip Ganassi Crew Chief Mike Hull was just glad to have put on a great show and won.

“It was a great day,” said Hull. “It’s what race teams work to achieve, to win this race. This is the biggest race in the world. Today we had great race drivers and great race teams. I don’t know what the head count is here because they never tell us, but I think they were treated to a great show. Obviously we think that at Chip Ganassi Racing.”

At the end of the day, its Dario who gets to enjoy the milk and kiss the bricks.

Final Official Standings:

Top 10:

  1. Dario Franchetti
  2. Dan Wheldon
  3. Marco Andretti
  4. Alex Lloyd
  5. Scott Dixon
  6. Danica Patrick
  7. Justin Wilson
  8. Will Power
  9. Helio Castroneves
  10. Alex Tagliani

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