The Scottish Indy car driver really hit the fast track this season when he became the first Scotsman since Graham Hill to win the Indianapolis 500.
Franchitti, who is married to actress Ashley Judd, has three victories this season and seven in his Indy Racing League IndyCar Series career.
Now 34, Franchitti began his racing career in karts at age 9.
After working his way through the European ranks, Franchitti made his North American debut in CART in 1997. He raced in the series full-time until moving to the Indy Racing League in 2003. He posted 10 CART victories.
He is a licensed helicopter pilot and calls Nashville, Tenn., home.
Featured here (clockwise from top left): In victory lane after a 1999 CART win; Getting a hug from Paul Tracy in 1998; On the way to his first IRL triumph at The Milwaukee Mile in 2004; With teammate Tony Kanaan (left) and Dan Wheldon (right); Sharing a smile; Ready to roll at Kentucky Speedway; Celebrating a victory in Nashville in 2005; In 1995 when he finished fifth in the German Touring Car championship; Resting with Kanaan (right) at Indy; Taking in his Indy 500 victory with wife Ashley. — NSSN Archives