Bathgate’s Dario Franchitti finished a frustrating fourth in the latest round of the IndyCar Championship in Chicago after being pipped for third in the final sprint to the line by just 0.0298secs by Brazilian Mario Moraes.
The 36-year-old Scot now heads into the final two races of the title battle in Japan and Florida knowing he needs to win at least one if he is to overcome the 25-point gap on current leader Ryan Briscoe.
“Of course I’m disappointed not to have finished on the podium,” Franchitti, whose Ganassi team-mate Scott Dixon was denied victory in a dramatic finish when Aussie Briscoe finished just 0.0077s ahead, admitted.
“We entered the weekend four points behind Ryan, now we’re 25 points back, so we know we have to win at least one of the final two races.
“We always knew it was going to be close here, and it will be the same in the final two races, but i know we have everything in place at Ganassi to win the championship and that’s what we’re focused on.”
Briscoe, who started the race from pole position in his Penske, recovered from a mid-race pit delay which relegated him to 10th on the 1.5-mile oval, to record his third win of the year in the fourth-closest finish in IndyCar history.
Franchitti, second in the championship, heads to Japan eight points ahead of Dixon in third.
JM