Ashley races to Dario
Estranged wife of Scots driver at his bedside after crash, fuelling talk of reconciliation
THE estranged movie star wife of Scots racing driver Dario Franchitti has rushed to his hospital bedside after he fractured his spine in a horrific crash.
Double Jeopardy star Ashley Judd, who separated from her husband almost nine months ago, wrote on Twitter: ‘I have only the clothes on my back and the dogs but that’s all we need and we are on our way.’
Franchitti, 40, was airlifted to hospital on Sunday after colliding with driver Takuma Sato at the IndyCar Grand Prix in Houston.
He then smashed into the track wall, sending his car spinning into the air before crashing back onto the track. He fractured two vertebrae in his back, broke his right ankle and suffered concussion, while at least 13 spectators were injured by flying debris. Yet his condition was said not to be serious and yesterday he was able to send his fans a message: ‘Thank you to everyone for all the well wishes. ‘They mean a lot to me. I would also like to send my best to all the fans involved in the accident and hope that every-
one is alright.’ Meanwhile, Miss J udd tweeted: ‘Amazed by the incredible outpouring of care and prayers. Thanks, everyone.’
Tennis star Andy Murray also sent his best wishes, writing: ‘Hope you and all the fans injured in the crash are doing good and you make a speedy recovery Dario.’
And Marino Franchitti, brother of the three-times Indy500 champion and also a racing driver, wrote: ‘ Thanks for all the kind messages. Hope everyone in the crowd is OK, sounded awful.’
Dario, from Bathgate in West Lothian, crashed during the final lap.
He was still conscious following the crash and taken to the Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Centre for treatment.
IndyCar medical director Dr Michael Ollinger said Franchitti would not require surgery for his spinal fracture and his condition was said not to be serious.
Franchitti’s team boss, Chip Ganassi, said: ‘His ankle is a little sore, his back is a little sore. He is going to be OK.’
Speaking after the crash – which
‘It looked bad, I hate seeing that’
also involved a third driver – Sato said: ‘Hopefully Dario is okay.’
The race winner, Australian driver Will Power, added: ‘It just looked bad. I hate seeing that, I just hate it. I just hope he’s okay.’
The collision comes just two years after the death of Franchitti’s close friend, English racing driver Dan Wheldon, who died in a 15-car pile-up at the Las Vegas Indy 300.
Franchitti has been injured before, flipping his car twice within two weeks during the 2007 racing season and hurting his ankle in a stock car crash in 2008.
The presence of Miss Judd, 45, at Franchitti’s hospital bed has fuelled speculation about a potential reconciliation. The couple announced their split in January, 11 years after tying the knot at Skibo Castle in Sutherland. In a joint statement issued at the time they said: ‘We have mutually decided to end our marriage.
‘We’ll always be family and continue to cherish our relationship based on the special love, integrity and respect we have always enjoyed.’
Miss Judd, who starred in films including Heat and Kiss the Girls, has now entered politics and considered running for the Kentucky Senate next year before changing her mind.
She and Franchitti, who shared homes in Tennessee and Menteith, Stirlingshire, have no children but remain close friends.