Franchitti stripped of third before being reinstated

While watching the first of the two IndyCar races on the street circuit in Toronto, they saw a surprise look on the third place finisher while he was on the podium.

As the celebrations were taken place for the podium finishers, INDYCAR elected to give Dario Franchitti a penalty by adding 25 seconds to his overall finish time on the final race lap.

The Scotsman was charged with blocking Will Power, and instead of his on-track position of third, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver ended 13th.

Said Franchitti, "I was defending. It's always someone else's fault with Will. I went to the outside, and he went to the inside when there was only a half a car length."

It did not take long for the Chip Ganassi Racing team to convince that he deserved his third place finish in the first race of the Toronto double-header.

However, Ganassi does not take things laying down nor does his team. They requested an immediate meeting with the INDYCAR official including Randy Brian Barnhart, senior vice president of operations whom is this weekend the Race Director as Beaux Barfield is on personal leave.

Once the data was shown and proven, Franchitti was reinstated.

INDYCAR statement:

"After the race, INDYCAR officials met with Franchitti and Target Chip Ganassi Racing team members to further review the blocking penalty issued on the final lap. The team presented car data showing steering trace and braking points from the Lap 85 incident with the No. 12 car driven by Will Power. The group also viewed additional video. Upon further review, INDYCAR reinstated Franchitti to his original third-place finishing position."

Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon was the winner followed by Sebastien Bourdais for Dragon Racing. Franchitti was definitely third!

Franchitti was the pole winner for today's race and tomorrow, Dixon and he will start on the front row for the first-ever standing start for the IndyCar Series.