Dario Franchitti retires!!

[touching cloth]

Such a shame, must be gutting for him.

http://chipganassiracing.com/ViewArticle.aspx?arti...

[MartynVRS]

Just seen it now. I had a feeling it may happen. He has nothing to prove to anyone, won plenty so it's not worth to risk to his health.

[Kinkell]

No shame in getting out in one piece at the top of a brilliant racing career. He pitched up at 8 am at a frosty Knockhill club race meet in his F40 last year to say hello to his fellow racers at the driver's briefing. An absolute gentleman and a credit to British Motorsport.

[GALLARDOGUY]

Good luck to him in his future endeavours.

Team owner one day (with his brother)?

[SiredR]

Gutted , Dario was such a great all rounder , hopefully we will get to see him at the Goodwood revival again though.

[cupofbeans]

Sad, but at least he's still here to tell the tale unlike his good pals Greg and Dan. I expect that had a bearing on his decision as well as the medical advice about aggravating anything in future.

Well done Dario, you've gone British and Scottish motor racing proud, just a shame you didn't get the recognition you deserved outside of the specialist media.

[madmover]

Very sad seeing someone have to give up what they love and their passion but what a fantastic career! Hats off to him, he's certainly done everyone proud and has lead a great career. All the best to him in the future, I'm sure he will find another challenge in due course!

[Altrezia]

Better than being dead.

Hope he finds something fun to do in the mean time. A good guy.

[Ian974]

After that smash i'm really not surprised, he was very lucky with that one. As said though he doesn't need to prove anything and good luck to him with whatever he does next!

[37chevy]

Massive loss to motorsport, Dario is one of those british drivers which has never been appreciated by the average joe like Hamilton or button, but has won more championships and is more successful in his field, it's a shame he hasn't really seen the recognition he deserves. A true legend.

[d3dna]

I found out when my iPhone and iPad went mental a few hours ago with twitter and Facebook posts doing backflips.
It's a shame as he is a great ambassador to Indy but health comes first. For my opinion on what he does next, well either a testing role or more likely being a driver manager/developer for plucky young Scots.

[woof]

Good - I'm glad he's made a sensible decision on this.
Gets to a point that the risk aren't worth it and he's got to that point.

[ExiledScot]

Sad to see him forced out, but very glad he's still here to make that decision. It's not like he had anything left to prove; he's achieved so much, that he can look back with a lot of pride and know he's such a respected name that he'll have plenty of new options open to him elsewhere in motorsport, I'm sure. Good luck to him for the future!

[Corpulent Tosser]

Very sorry to hear he has had to retire but glad he made the correct decision, he has had a very successful career, which as others have said has not had the recognition it deserved here in Britain.

I wish him all the best in whatever challenges he takes up next.

[touching cloth]

Certainly the right decision, life is pretty precious, would that Dan Wheldon had the same decision to make. I do wonder about the recognition thing as not sure it would bother me. In fact being able to come "home" and be relatively unknown must be quite nice.

[entropy]

I'm actually glad he has retired. He probably should have retired/left Indycars a lot sooner after he went airborne a couple of times it really spooked him and his ex: Ashley, more so.

Good luck to whatever is the next chapter - I'd be surprised if it wasn't motorsport related. He has a great appreciation for it.

[the other me]

The recent accident was the most shocking in several "biggies" he has survived.

Glad he had the clarity of mind to turn the page & give himself a chance to enjoy other things in life, rather than handing his fate to the "odds fairy".

[weyland yutani]

Won a ton of races and championships, banged a gorgeous actress and drives a F40 . . . job jobbed.

[DanielSan]

One of the least well known British sportsman of the last 10 years and yet one if the most successful. Just something incredibly wrong about that.

[ellroy]

We'll I'm pleased he's hung up the helmet.

As has been said he's had a few major shunts and also with his trophy cabinet bulging at the seams he has nothing to prove.

Thanks for the memories Dario enjoy retirement!

Edited by ellroy on Monday 18th November 22:13