IndyCar’s Dario Franchitti released from hospital following crash

IndyCar driver Dario Franchitti, who suffered multiple injuries in a racing crash in Houston, was released from a Houston hospital Thursday.

The four-time series champion left Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center for Indianapolis, where he’s eventually expected to have a second surgery to his broken right ankle.

Franchitti, 40, also suffered two spinal fractures and a concussion Sunday when his car went airborne and crashed into the catch-fence near the end of the race on a street course in Houston.

The Scottish driver of Italian descent went to Twitter on Thursday to thank his fans and “everyone at the hospital and the track who took such good care of me during my stay in Houston.”

He included a photograph of himself standing upright with the help of a walker, his lower right leg in a cast. He also was wearing a protective device around his chest.

His team, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, has said veteran driver Alex Tagliani will replace Franchitti in the season-ending race Oct. 19 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

Franchitti’s teammate, Scott Dixon, holds the point lead heading into Fontana. On a conference call with reporters Thursday, Dixon was asked about Franchitti.

“He’s pretty beat up,” Dixon said, but added that Franchitti’s spirits were high and that “he’s got control of his phone again, so that’s a good sign.”

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