Franchitti remembers 'amazing' Leslie

Franchitti, who won the Indy 500 and IndyCar Series last year, started his racing career with Leslie's family-run team in Formula Vauxhall Junior, winning the national title that acted as his springboard onto Paul Stewart Racing's staircase of talent.

"It's just so bloody sad," said Franchitti. "I was thinking about David all the way home from [the NASCAR race at] Martinsville. There were two sides to him, David the racer and David the team owner.

"My dad would always rave about David's driving in karting and Formula Ford, and how he went on to have great success with Ecurie Ecosse and its wee Group C car and then into touring cars.

"I got to see him race when he was in tin-tops and I was driving for his team in Vauxhall Junior, and then when I was in Vauxhall Lotus and Formula 3 too. He was bloody amazing, especially in that Ecurie Ecosse Vauxhall Cavalier. To see him take on the works boys and beat them was great to watch.

"The other side of him, the one I really knew, was him as a team boss. You've got to mention his father [David Snr] too. They were a real team, and each brought their own area of expertise to the table.

"They wanted the young Scottish drivers to have the advantages they didn't have when David was coming up through the ranks. They'd done great with Allan [McNish] and DC [David Coulthard], so it was only natural that I'd go with them too.

"It was tough for us to find the money at first, but they were so understanding about it. They really helped me.

"David had an amazing way of explaining things, and I can see him doing it now: he'd stand with his legs slightly apart, hunch over a wee bit, hands shoulder-width apart, and he'd start explaining how to do something through the corner. He had a knack of explaining something, talk you through it, and you'd think 'okay' and go and do it."

Franchitti said he'll remember Leslie for his complete devotion to motorsport, as well as his family.

"David just loved the sport, and would spend hours talking to anyone about it," he added. "We'd always hang out at the Scottish Motor Racing dinner every year, and chat away and catch up.

"He was always good for advice, and was a lovely family man too. It's a terrible and tragic loss, and I really feel for his whole family right now."