Auto Racing | Stewart triumphs; Franchitti is injured

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Dario Franchitti fractured his left ankle in a crash Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway that sent him and Larry Gunselman of Snohomish to a hospital for observation.

Franchitti, who came to NASCAR this season as the reigning IndyCar Series champion and Indianapolis 500 winner, also was treated for bruises. David Stremme will take Franchitti's place in the No. 40 Dodge in today's Aaron's 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega.

The crash occurred on the 10th lap of the Aaron's 312, a Nationwide Series event won by Tony Stewart. Stewart, who held off Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s last-lap bid, posted his first Talladega victory.

"This is not like winning a regular Nationwide race," Stewart said. "To me, this is the biggest one I've had. To finally win at Talladega, it's more than I can put into words."

Stewart has finished second in six Cup races at Talladega.

Franchitti wrecked after his car apparently blew a tire. His Dodge struck the outside wall and slid down the track and into the path of Gunselman's No. 91 Ford. Gunselman's car hit the driver's side of Franchitti's car.

About 90 minutes after the accident, Gunselman was taken to a hospital for observation; there was no immediate word from NASCAR officials on his condition.

Stremme finished second to Stewart. Earnhardt faded to sixth. Greg Biffle of Vancouver, Wash., was 11th of 43.

The race was slowed by eight cautions for 27 laps, including a 12-car accident that brought a stoppage of 25 minutes.

Notes

• Joe Nemechek, the second-to-last driver to make a qualifying attempt, knocked Stewart off the pole for today's Cup race with a lap of 187.386 mph. "Front Row Joe" has four career poles at Talladega.

Biffle will start in 31st, and Kasey Kahne of Enumclaw will start in 42nd.

• Ron Hornaday beat Jack Sprague, a Kevin Harvick Inc. teammate, to win the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.

There were a race-record 12 cautions.

• Danica Patrick, who won last weekend's IndyCar Series race in Japan, qualified third for today's RoadRunner Turbo Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway.

Scott Dixon took the top spot in qualifying with a four-lap average of 213.956 mph. Dan Wheldon, Dixon's Target Chip Ganassi teammate, was second.

• Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari edged Renault's Fernando Alonso to take the pole for today's Spanish Grand Prix in Montmelo.