Racing: NASCAR: Dario Franchitti wins by a rainstorm at Indy 500 classic event, favored Kanaan flushes out

Associated Press via FoxNews.com carries a great report, "Scottish Driver Dario Franchitti wins Indianopolis 500"(May27,2k7); it details Franchittii's deliberate gamble on the weather that day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and his strategem to beat his best friend, racer Tony Kanaan of Brazil. Kanaan was long well in the lead, Sam Hornish Jr was second, and Franchitti third; but Kanaan and Hornish stopped to refurbish in the pit. Losing time, Kanaan and the whole pack of other racers got cawt in a rainstorm only halfway thru, the race being called for some 3 hours. "The race was interrupted by rain for three hours shortly after the halfway point and then, after a restart, was stopped after 166 of the scheduled 200 laps." Also AP's Cliff Brunt's write-up of the NASCAR Indy race last week, "Franchitti Sees $1.6M Purse for Indy 500" (May28,2k7).

Kanaan also received the Scott Brayton Award, named for the late driver who was killed in practice after winning the pole in 1996 and given to the racer best exemplifying the character and spirit of Brayton.

Franchitti's share was part of a record purse of nearly $10.7 million that was announced at the victory dinner. The previous record was $10.5 million last year.

Second-place finisher Scott Dixon's $719,067 and third-place finisher Helio Castroneves' $646,303. ...

The smallest prize from Sunday's race was $193,305 for 32nd place by Jon Herb. The prize money is distributed in a formula that includes race finish, qualification outcome and various performance awards.

Kanaan made up for his non-win more recently, "Kanaan wins IRL race at Milwaukee Mile" (Jun3,2k7) by AP's Mike Marris.