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Scotsman Dario Franchitti and Ashley Judd's Hollywood Indy ending

By Stone Martindale May 28, 2007, 14:46 GMT

Dario Franchitti, the Italian named racer with a Scottish burr and a Hollywood star for a wife has won the rain-shortened Indy 500. Ashley Judd reacts in the pit as the rain starts, giving her spouse Dario Franchetti the Indianapolis 500 victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana, 27 May 2007 EPA/STEVE C. MITCHELL

Ashley Judd reacts in the pit as the rain starts, giving her spouse Dario Franchetti the Indianapolis 500 victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana, 27 May 2007 EPA/STEVE C. MITCHELLFranchitti finished ahead of Andretti to win yesteray. "I'm in shock at this point," said Franchitti, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and now lives in Nashville. "I'm definitely in shock." Dario

Dario

Franchitti was the winner as he crossed the famed strip of bricks in a gullywasher of rain, his famous wife running barefoot and sans makeup, soaking wet to greet him at the finish. The scene could have been cut out of any romantic movie.

The famed Indianapolis 500 had a three-hour break in between and not enough daylight to get in the final 85 miles, reported ABC news."Restart after restart," said runner-up Scott Dixon to ABC. "It's just one of those days where you feel like you haven't even raced. It's sort of being on the freeway and watching lots of people smash into each other. It's just a frustrating day in general."

Dario and Ashley

Franchitti coasted across the line for the biggest win of his career.This Indy will go down as the race where things didn't go right. Namely the weather.Storm after storm pelted the speedway. "The 2 1/2-mile oval was drenched by morning showers but dried in time for the race to get started on time. Another storm moved in, halting the cars after 113 of their scheduled 200 laps," reported ABC.During a brief break in the showers, "the cars went back to racing with a couple of hours of daylight remaining. They didn't get to use all of it, finished off by yet another line of showers," reported ABC.

Dario hoists his milk

Franchitti led 34 laps, averaging 151.744 mph, as compared to the record 185.81 mph by Arie Luyendyk in 1990.Racer Marco Andretti didn't make it to the end this time. Three laps from the premature finish, the young Andretti clipped 2005 winner Dan Wheldon, swerved into the outer wall and flipped upside-down before turning upright in the infield grass.The Andretti family saw racer Mario Andretti win back in 1969. Andretti Green Racing had five cars in the field and at one point was running 1-2-3 with Kanaan. Last year saw Marco Andretti edged out of a win at the finish line.It was another teammate out front when it mattered, giving Andretti Green its second Indy win in three years. Michael Andretti finished 13th.Marco Andretti managed to walk away from his wreck with minor injuries."My mirror was broke, so I had no idea who was outside of me," he said. "I'm one lucky guy."Franchitti is expected to collect at least $1.5 million from a total purse of more than $10.5 million when the prizes are doled out at the victory dinner Monday night.Penske teammates Helio Castroneves and Hornish finished third and fourth. The rest of the top 10 were Ryan Briscoe, Scott Sharp, Tomas Scheckter, Patrick, Davey Hamilton and Vitor Meira, reported ABC.Indy note: The "Milk" tradition:The 1933 race established the milk tradition.It was a very hot day, and after the race, winner Louie Meyer headed straight for his garage, where he had a bottle of buttermilk in an icebox. As he drank, a photographer just happened to pass by, and the next morning, Meyer's picture -- bottle to lips -- was in the local newspaper.Indiana dairy people thought it was great publicity and talked the speedway into letting them have a bottle waiting for the winner. Ice-cold milk has been waiting there ever since.-courtesy Indiana dairy council.

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MarilynMay 28th, 2007 - 16:48:32

SHAME ON DARIO! WHERE WAS THE LOVE? HE ACTUALLY PUSHED ASHLEY AWAY WHEN SHE FINALLY GOT TO HIM STILL SITTING IN THE CAR AT THE WINNER'S CIRCLE. HE HAD PLENTY OF HUGS FOR HIS TEAM AND DANICA AND THE OTHER DRIVERS, BUT NOT FOR HIS ADORING WIFE, ASHLEY.

My husband and I watched the whole race and were excited to see it get re-started. It was very exciting but I probably would not have watched it if it were not for my husband.

A LOVING WIFE,
MARILYN

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MarilynMay 28th, 2007 - 17:00:20

Shame on Dario! Where was the love? He actually pushed Ashley away when she finally got to him, still sitting in the car, at the winner's circle. He had plenty of hugs for his team and Danica and the other drivers, but not for his adoring wife, Ashley.

My husband and I watched the whole race and were excited to see it get re-started. It was very exciting but I probably would not have watched it if it were not for my husband.

A LOVING WIFE,
MARILYN

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JayMay 28th, 2007 - 17:11:16

I'm just wondering, does it get any better than winning the Indy 500 and having Ashley Judd throwing herself at you in her rain-soaked summer dress?

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ColinMay 29th, 2007 - 00:53:08

I think what the TV camera captured when Ashley greeted Dario after his win was not a rejection at all. Everything the two have been quoted saying about each other indicates a pair very much in love. I wonder how many people understood what she was talking about when she mentioned Jimmy Clark as being a hero to Dario. I saw the late great Jimmy race a few times, and he and Stirling Moss are the two finest (and fastest) automobile racers the sport has ever known. For Dario to be the only other Scotsman besides Clark to win the Indianapolis 500 must mean a tremendous amout to him.
I'm a Scotsman (and former amateur sports car racer) ---- Scottish people don't have 'brogues' --- that's the Irish --- Scots have a 'burr'

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cawgnbrnrMay 29th, 2007 - 09:57:29

I agree with you Marilyn. I was really surprised to see him shun her. I love the both of them. Totally happy for Dario. Have been waiting so long for him to win at Indy. But, running to others plus Danica for a kiss and his crew, I don't think so. I'd be tappin' him on the shoulder saying 'what up dog'. Ashley was a true lady though, just stood by waiting, making no fuss. I felt so sorry for her in the group pix, standing on the bottom soaked to the bone.

Just my thoughts

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