The New Schumi?

In the heat of the moment, people will do stupid things.

And in the heat of the moment, people tend to think that other people are doing stupid things as well.

Remember Dario Franchitti, our poor old friend who had just lost his lead in the Indy Car Series because his teammate (who also happens to be his boss's son) crashed into him?

At the very next race at Belle Island in Detroit, Franchitti was once again the victim. This time, the culprit was Scott Dixon, the guy who had just overtaken him in the championship.

With just two laps to go in the race (shortened due to the time limit rule), Buddy Rice, Dixon and Franchitti were running a close second, third and fourth respectively behind Tony Kanaan. While it looked as though the race would finish in that order, Rice suddenly ran out of fuel and slowed down approaching turn 13. Dixon, sensing the kill, ducked to the inside and tried to overtake him. But they two collided. Rice, who had his suspension damaged, ran straight into the barriers and had to retire on the spot. Meanwhile, Dixon's car managed to make the turn but continued to spin.

With his car facing the wrong way, Dixon found Franchitti approaching and was ready to overtake him (in the race and the championship standings) through the gap between Dixon's rear and the barriers. Just as Franchitti was ready to pounce, Dixon's car somehow rolled backwards and collected Franchitti. In the end though, Franchitti was able to rejoin the race and was classified sixth, two places above Dixon and is now back to the top of the standings with just one race to go.

It was a most bizarre situation, reminiscent of some of Michael Schumacher's cheapest and dirtiest tricks. Michael Andretti, Franchitti's boss, called Dixon's antics a show of "poor sportsmanship." Kanaan, who would go on to win the race, claimed Dixon "did it on purpose."

However, Franchitti brushed them aside and simply regarded it as a racing accident. And naturally Dixon denied that he had done it on purpose.

Was it a mere accident? Did Dixon intentionally not slam on the brakes and let his car roll into the path of Franchitti?



You can be the judge.