FanHouse

UPDATE: Team owner Chip Ganassi said that Franchitti is currently undergoing X-rays on his ankle. Larry Gunselman was also later transported to the hospital.

Original: Sprint Cup Series driver and 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti was helped to a waiting ambulance after being involved in a drivers-side impact Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway during the Aaron's 312 Nationwide Race.

The impact occurred after Franchitti cut down a rear tire on his No. 40 Chip Ganassi Dodge entering turn 3 on lap 10. Franchitti's Dodge snapped sideways and brushed the nose into the side of Nationwide point leader Clint Bowyer.

The No. 40 then slid down the track -- nearly to a stop -- when Larry Gunselman plowed into his left side.

From video replays, I can't understand how Gunselman didn't slow down any more than he did. There was no tire smoke and no last second attempt to swerve out of the way.

Had Gunselman missed Franchitti, Dario's car likely could have continued in the race. Instead, he hobbled to the ambulance in obvious pain.

As Franchitti's car was being towed back to the garage, the drivers side of the car was deeply mangled and the roll cage had been pushed in significantly towards the cockpit. The image makes the announcement last week of the Nationwide Series adopting the Car of Tomorrow platform in mid-2009 seem like its too far away.

The new race car -- currently campaigned in the Sprint Cup Series -- has a number of safety features to help drivers in such impacts including the drivers seat moved more towards the middle of the car and a large foam block built in between the roll cage and the outside sheet metal.

Franchitti qualified 43rd for Sunday's Sprint Cup Aaron's 499.

Updates on Dario's condition will be posted when available.