Growing up in Indiana my family marked the beginning of 'summer' with the sounds of race cars circling the Indy 500 track. It was a tradition, the first cookout of the season, listening to the race (it wasn't televised back then), and spending the day with family and friends.The tradition continued for me when I moved from the small town where I had grown up, to the big city of Indianapolis to work for the NBC affiliate. The station was the official Indy 500 television station in the state, and that provided additional access for all who worked there. I've been inside Gasoline Alley, in the pit area, and listened in on numerous interviews with drivers and team owners.
For that reason, every Memorial Day weekend readers of this blog will find posts related to the race.
An increased number of people visited Yikes over the weekend, and it was interesting to see some of the keywords people used to find this blog.
Ashley Judd's name came up most, Ashley in the rain, Ashley's husband wins, husband ignores Ashley. The last one caught my eye. It had seemed that Dario didn't pay the kind of attention to his wife that one might expect from a guy married to one of the most beautiful women in the world. When the car pulled into victory lane, and she leaned in to give him a kiss, it appeared as if he didn't even see her.
Well, I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he probably didn't see her. He had just accomplished something he had only dreamed about for years. It happened in a most unusual way -- due to the rain, and a yellow caution light -- and I think he was simply stunned.
He sort of had that deer-in-the-headlights look when he first took his helmet off. I think his brain was simply trying to catch up with the overwhelming emotions that must have overtaken him. The Orlando Sentinel describes it this way:
He's so dazed with disbelief that he's actually won this thing that he's a little glassy-eyed. Almost like he barely recognizes her.
I could believe that.
By racing standards Dario is getting a bit old, he's had some challenges over the past decade that included at one point losing his ride. And he was probably was also thinking about the last time a Scot won the race, which was back in 1965 when the legendary Jim Clark won. (Dario added a Jim Clark room to the house he has been restoring in Scotland.)
From all accounts Dario Franchitti is a good guy. His wife commented to reporters that day that he had conducted himself on the race track like a true "gentleman."
I agree with Ed Hinton of the Orlando Sentinel who wrote:
"Who would have thought it? Can you believe it?" said [Dario] in his Scottish lilt and burr. "I'm in shock . . . I'm definitely in shock."
From a guy who'd barely noticed Ashley Judd kissing him, you could believe that. His wife attended the winner's press conference but did not make it to the podium. This moment, for once, belonged solely to Dario Franchitti.
'It was a big one, all right. All I can say is, I'm so happy for Dario Franchitti.'
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