Franchitti: Kanaan could have Lifted

Franchitti won the race from Kanaan by 0.111 seconds after the Brazilian fell back from a passing attempt in the last metres of the 400-mile race.

Kanaan claimed he had hit the pitlane speed limiter on his car instead of the rev-increasing overtake button. However Franchitti admitted it did look as if his Andretti-Green Racing partner had eased off.

"It all came down to that last, as usual, two feet, didn't it?," Franchitti said. "I don't know what Tony told you guys. He hasn't really told me much. But it looked like he lifted.

"Tony is either the most generous guy you'll ever meet or one of the most selfish, and there's very rarely a middle ground with him.

"I think he's entirely capable of doing it. And I have to say, I would do the same for him. If the roles were reversed, I would do the same for him. That's the relationship we have, and have had for a long time."

Franchitti dedicated the victory to his friend Greg Moore, who was killed in an accident at the Champ Car event at the track in 1999.

"It's probably the first thing I think about when I say, "Okay, Fontana coming up next." You go through the gates. He's never far from my mind any time really, but when we're here especially.

"It was nice to win here today, but it will never bring him back. You know what I mean? And it never will make up for one per cent of the loss. It was just nice to go out and win that last race at this track and fight it out with Tony, who was another one of Greg's best friends."