Scottish driver Franchitti ruled out of NASCAR for month after being rammed at high speed

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Just like Heikki Kovalainen in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, Franchitti was the victim of a burst tyre.

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Dario Franchitti, left, is smashed by Larry Gunselman (91) crash during the Aaron's 312 Nationwide Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway

The Dodge car driven by the 34-year-old winner of the Indy 500 and IndyCar championship was pitched into a retaining wall and then slid down the banked track, where it was rammed at high speed by rival racer Larry Gunselman.

One of the reasons Franchitti switched from single-seaters to NASCAR saloons was because he thought he would be safer after being involved in two huge accidents last year.

"But motor racing isn't safe, we all know that," he said. "I'm just lucky these NASCAR cars are as safe as they are."