Overshadowed by Helio, Franchitti has an Indy comeback story

If it weren't for Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti would easily be the Indy 500's comeback kid. Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS -- In any other year, a comeback like the one Dario Franchitti has made this month would be the big story leading into the Indianapolis 500.

But, of course, this isn't any other year, and Franchitti's return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been overshadowed by Helio Castroneves' remarkable comeback, as the two-time Indy 500 winner has gone from an accused tax cheat to the pole winner for the 93rd running of the world's biggest race.

Castroneves was acquitted on April 17, and returned to his IndyCar the following day. He hasn't missed a beat. He claimed his third Indy 500 pole on Saturday with a four-lap average of 224.864 miles per hour.

But on the outside of the front row is Franchitti, who started in that same position in 2007, when he went on to win both the Indy 500 and the IndyCar Series championship.

Take away Castroneves, and Franchitti would be the Comeback Kid for sure.

When the 2007 season ended, the driver from Edinburgh, Scotland, wanted a new challenge in racing, so he left the high-speed winged machines for the bulkier, slower ones in the more popular and potentially more lucrative world of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing. If Franchitti was looking for a challenge, he certainly got it in NASCAR. He adapted in some ways, but struggled to make the top 20 in any of his races before discovering that NASCAR isn't always as safe as it appears on television.

Two weeks after breaking his ankle in a crash at Talladega, the hobbling Franchitti returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- with a cast on his left foot -- to see his old IndyCar pals. "It seems really strange to be here and not be driving," Franchitti said last year. "This is always a very special place."

His stance then was that his switch to NASCAR was "the right move at the right time." He also said he had "no remorse whatsoever" for leaving IndyCar because he was ready for a new challenge.

But Franchitti wasn't being totally honest. He admitted later last year that his trip to Indy made him realize how much he missed IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500. It's something that lingered in the back of his mind. And when team owner Chip Ganassi parked Franchitti's stock car midway through the season because of sponsorship issues, the driver officially went from Indy 500 winner to part-time Nationwide Series competitor.

He got back into IndyCar when Target/Chip Ganassi Racing's relationship with driver Dan Wheldon was dissolving, allowing Franchitti to take over the No. 10 car and join Scott Dixon on the two-car team.

"The thought started forming at this time last year," Franchitti admitted. "In July, Chip started quizzing me about returning to IndyCars, and Chip generally doesn't ask the question unless he has some interest in the answer."

The move has worked out well so far. Franchitti won the April 19 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, and Dixon followed one week later with a victory at Kansas Speedway. Not bad considering he was just a spectator last year.

"I was definitely a spectator because I was trying to get the swelling to go down on my broken ankle," Franchitti said. "This just feels like it fits, though. I love driving the car. I forgot how much I love driving IndyCars. I've had a pretty good start to the season on the street courses. The first lap back here put a big smile on my face. This is as challenging a place as I've ever driven, but I'm loving it. The feeling of driving a fast lap here, you can't help but be energized by it."

Speaking of second chances, Franchitti couldn't help but comment on Mark Martin, who won Saturday night's Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway for his second victory in the last four races.

"He's a very, very talented guy. I've learned a lot from him, both sitting and talking to him and following him on the track. He's one of the cool guys. I'm not surprised at all he's having the success, not only winning races but pole positions, too. He's on it, man."

And so is Franchitti, who is making the most out of his second opportunity in IndyCar.