Somber offseason

Dario Franchitti hasn’t had any time to celebrate his fourth IndyCar title. He’s been too busy working during a somber offseason. Instead of kicking back and relaxing with his wife, Ashley Judd, Franchitti has been out testing the new 2012 car, discussing safety proposals with series officials and reflecting on the death of his close friend, Dan Wheldon. “It’s been obviously a lot different this year with losing Dan at the last race. It (winning a fourth series title) has not been something I thought about that much,” Franchitti said on a conference call with reporters last Tuesday. “It did sink in. It’s bizarre. Last year it sunk in when I was in the middle of the Outback when I was on a motorbike. This year I think I was driving somewhere when it hit me.” – AP