Indy 500 win means little in rest of world
Franchitti's win got HUGE coverage in the UK. This included front page coverage on serious newspapers such as the Daily Telegraph to front page of Daily Mail (both papers biggest selling broadsheet and tabloid respectively). It was in every other newspaper, often color double page spreads. It was on BBC TV and radio, including the world service, not just domestic.
This coverage went on for days, and was big news. The Scottish Parliament has even put forward a motion, signed by politicians of all parties, congratulating Franchitti for his victory in the Indy 500 and for flying the flag for Scotland in the IRL. The First Minister of Scotland congratulated Franchitti.
The Autosport front page is a different matter altogether. Ask the editor of Autosport and he will tell you that he has to have F1 in general and Lewis Hamilton in particular on the front page. The front cover was a special blue edition (to symbolize Scotland) and did have a smaller pic of Franchitti and text about celebrating his Indy 500 victory. I wish they had put Franchitti only on the front page, and in fact a number of people complained, but their reasons have absolutely NOTHING to do with the status of the IRL and everything to do with riding the wave of Lewis Hamilton coverage. M Clark
06/10/07 Dario Franchitti's schedule of appearances since winning the Indianapolis 500 in May seems as hectic as those for many of Indy's past winners. That's why 2005 winner Dan Wheldon raised eyebrows this weekend when he said Franchitti hasn't received the attention he deserves.
Wheldon wasn't specific, but it appears one European slight has Franchitti miffed.
Europe's leading motor sports publication, Autosport, did not feature Franchitti on its cover following the 500. Instead, it showcased the exploits of Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, a rookie who takes a string of five consecutive top-three finishes into today's Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
"I wasn't too impressed with those guys," Franchitti said of the magazine's decision-makers. "(A Scot wins) the Indy 500 and doesn't make the cover?"
Actually, a small photograph of Franchitti appeared on the cover, but that's of little consolation to the winner. Indy Star
[Editor's Note: We don't think those in the IRL, including Tony George himself, realize how meaningless the Indy 500 has become since the IRL took over. It's sad to see but instead of pointing fingers at Autosport Magazine Dario should be asking Tony George "why have you destroyed our sport?" And to make matters worse, attendance was down significantly at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday night indicating fans are losing interest in the USA too.]