Y’all know, the race that made the following motto famous: No Attack, No
chance!
Earlier this year when “Watching,” Err listening
to Marshall Pruett’s great video remembering Greg Moore 20 years later. With
Dario Franchitti, Max Papis and Paul Tracy reminiscing over the exploits of
their Fallen driver. Dario made a comment which I’d Heard before, but
forgotten.
As Franchitti noted how He had been watching
CART/IndyCar with Norbert Haug and said Who is this guy! In regards to Greg Moore.
For which Haug was then Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsports, for which I always
forget that Dario was once a contracted Mercedes Driver, albeit in tintops’,
and Not single Seaters…
As Greg Moore, who drove His entire
CART/IndyCar career for Players Forsythe Racing, competed in only Mercedes-Benz
powered equipment between 1996-1999. And like Dario says, the Mercedes-Benz’s
were Underpowered during the ’98 CART/IndyCar campaign. Which is Funny, since
Dario, Max and Paul All elude to how difficult it was driving those Nasty, Narly
900+ Horsepower Bucking Bronc CART chassis!
And although I’m now well aware that Dario “REO
Speedwagon” Franchitti, whom I later took to calling Dashley LePew’ for several
years! Was a Rookie in Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) for Hogan Racing in
1997.
Yet Dashley’ Didn’t come onto my radar until ’98
when He drove for Team Kool Green alongside Mr. Chrome Horn, aka Paul Tracy.
Where I always felt that Dario gave Pt’ Fits! As Dario finished third Overall
that season with three wins before finishing Runner-up to Juan Pablo Montoya in
1999. As Montoya won on Tiebreaker with seven wins vs. Dario’s two.
George Dario Marino Franchitti was born on May
19, 1973 in Bathgate, Scotland. And Hence will celebrate His 50th Birthday this
upcoming May, possibly at Mother Speedway?
As Dario was a Bad Arse in Go Karts, winning
the 1984 Scottish Junior, 1985-1986 British Junior and 1988 Scottish Senior
Karting Championships before graduating to the Formula Vauxhall Jr. Single
Seater series, where He won the Championship in 1991.
Franchitti then joined Paul Stewart Racing in ’92
and won the Formula Vauxhall Lotus title in 1993 before moving up to British
Formula 3. Yet following the ’94 British F3 season, Franchitti was dropped by
Paul Stewart Racing and became a Werks’ AMG Racing Driver in the Deutsche
Touren Wagen series, along with the International Touring Car (ITC) series
behind the wheel of a Mercedes C-Class Saloon for two seasons before Mercedes
placed Him at Hogan Racing.
And although Dario made His Indianapolis 500 Debut
twenty years ago for Team Kool Green, I’m afraid I paid Him No Attenzione as a
Rookie. Especially since I was a Diehard CART loyalist and feverishly rootin’
Against HULIO’, whom ‘Ol Sugar Ray Tracy still Swears Stole the 2002 Indy 500 victory
away from Him!
Franchitti joined the Indy Lacing League (IRL) Fulltime
in ’03, what I was then feverishly calling the Indy Retirement League! When
Mikey A’, who’d bought majority control of what became Andretti Green Racing,
moved the team to the Death Star IRL! And being a Champ Car Devotee, I only
paid scant attention to the IRL during some Oval race during the Month of May…
Yet I know I was quite Happy when Dario won the
first of His three eventual Indianapolis 500’s during the Rain shortened 2007 race.
Although I remember that race more vividly for the cameras zooming in on then
wife Ashley Judd skipping Jubilantly down Pitlane in the soaking rain after
Dario’s victory!
Next Dario tried unwisely becoming a Roundy
Round Taxicab Bombers Rasser’ the following year. Although His Cup career was
Short lived, partially due to His breaking an Ankle
Thus returning to today’s IndyCar series a year
after it’s Mergification, Franchitti soon became known as the aforementioned
Dashley LePew’ due to being the Target Chip Ganassi Racing Scourge who
continuously Defeated DJ WillyP’, nee Will Power for the Championship each year!
Since I was a Huge Power Fan then.
Whilst the late Justin BIG UNIT’ Wilson was my
Numero Uno IndyCar Driver and How Dare Dashley make El Stupidio Quips Against Him!
http://www.nofenders.net/2012/06/may-be-ganassi-should-add-sazzall-to.html
And although I’m certain I watched His second
Indy 500 win on Ye Telie’. Instead that year, I chose to attend the 2010 MotoGP
over the 500 in what I turned into my own version of celebrating Mother
Speedway’s first two Centennials, i.e.; 2009-2010-2011.
As I had to watch the 2010 Indy 500 Highlights to remember before the Chequered Flag flew, that Mike “Ice Ice, Baby!” Conway was involved in that Horrendous accident when colliding with The Dude! Aka Ryan Hunter-Reay’s running Out of fuel racecar!
Now a decade later, my memories of the 2012 Indianapolis
500 are naturally somewhat fleeting. As it’s hard to believe it’s over ten
years ago when I saw Doctor Who’, aka Tim Wardrop for the last time. When Tim
was Race Engineer for whom I took to playfully anointing “Mean Jean” Alesi in
the Luddi’, Uhm Powered by Judd Lotus lumps Dallara DW12! Which sadly, quickly
became the laughing stock of IndyCar for being woefully underpowered As I miss
my yearly Chinwag’s with Dr. Who at the long forgotten IMS Flagroom Bar!
http://www.nofenders.net/2012/10/sayonara-doctor-who.html
And besides the delayed wafting of tyre smoke
filling the Stands, we all know the outcome of that race. For which I believe I
was seated in Turn-1. And I Don’t begrudge Dario for what He did to Taku-san’,
aka Takuma Sato, since after all they were fighting to win the Indy 500! As I
now just believe that Dario “Squeezed” Sato towards the Wall. But this is the
only time I’ve ever Heard an audible, vehement Booing of an Indianapolis 500 winner
on the race’s Cool Down lap!
As little did anyone, especially Dario know
that would be His final IndyCar victory. As I last saw Franchitti racing in
person at the following year’s Indy 500, when He caused the race’s final
Caution that cemented Tony Kanaan’s win!
And then there was that Uber Nasty accident at
Houston’s Reliant stadium! As I can still being able to see Dario’s racecar going
somewhat vertical in the Sky as He Flew Up, Up and Away into the Catch Fencing!
Which Dario was super lucky to get away with twice! Since I recall Him
Summersaulting over the Hapless, unsuspecting “Sofa King,” nee Kosuke Matsuura
after having lost count of the final lap at Kentucky, and careened off of Kosuke’s
rear wheel in what Marty Reid described as a Hydroplane Blow Over!
Thus wisely, Franchitti took His Doctor’s Medical
Advice seriously and retired from racing in November, 2013…
As Dario retired from Indy Cars with 265 Starts, 31 Wins, 91 Podiums and 34 Poles. Along with being a Four times IndyCar Champion (2007, 2009-2011) and Three times Indianapolis 500 winner. Which Ain’t too shabby, Eh!
