Scottish driver spins out at Talladega, breaks ankle

Dario Franchitti (we know him as Dario F) was extremely lucky to escape with just a busted ankle when his car lost its right rear tyre on the 10th lap of the Nationwide Series Nascar support race at Talladega on Saturday. The Scot’s Dodge bounced into the wall and spun down the track. Several cars avoided him, but when it seemed he might get away without a heavy impact, Larry Gunselman’s Chevy slammed into his driver side door.

This type of side-impact crash is arguably the worst in motorsport – think back to Alex Zanardi’s horror smash in 2001, when his Champ Car span into the path of Alex Tagliani’s car, which was travelling at more than 200mph. Zanardi lost both legs above the knee in the accident. By comparison, Franchitti is one lucky driver – and not just because he can count on wife Ashley Judd to nurse him back to full health.