Motorsport

Franchitti jolted by Dixon clash

IndyCar championship goes to the wire after penultimate round incident between leaders

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Dixon, Kanaan and Franchitti

05th September 2007

Dario Franchitti will take a slender three-point lead into this year’s IndyCar championship finale after a controversial late race crash in the Detroit Indy Grand Prix.

New Zealand’s Scott Dixon surrendered the series lead after spinning on the penultimate lap, but prevented his main adversary from taking maximum advantage by letting his stricken car roll back across the track into the oncoming Scot.

Franchitti was still able to extricate his damaged car from the wreckage and limped across the line in sixth. Dixon was credited with eighth, but lost the series lead.

“I would never have done anything intentional,” said the Kiwi, and Dario was willing to give his rival the benefit of the doubt. “Some people thought it was deliberate, but he has raced me cleanly all year, and it would be out of character,” he remarked.

But team owner Michael Andretti, was furious with the move. ”Scott took Dario out on purpose,” he fumed. Race winner Tony Kanaan – also in with an outside shot at the crown – thought it was foul play, too. “It was the most ungentlemanly thing Scott could do,” he said.

The result sets up a title decider at Chicago on Sunday. With 50 points awarded to the victor, it’s set to be a real cliff-hanger – watch the race live on Sky Sports 3 at 21.00.