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Dario Franchitti likes to fly.

His helicopter, that is.

In the past two Indy Racing League events, Franchitti has gotten airborne in a way he doesn't prefer.

In Michigan, it wasn't his fault. Dan Wheldon hit his right rear tire and Franchitti went straight in the air.

But last Saturday in Kentucky, it was his fault. He apparently didn't know the race was over and plowed into the back of Kosuke Matsuura's car, sending Franchitti on another wild ride through the air.

Luckily for the Scotsman, he was uninjured in both accidents. He had a bruised nose after Michigan, but hey, that's nothing compared to what might have happened.

Not so lucky for him is the fact his points lead has dwindled to eight with three races remaining.

After Richmond in late June, Franchitti's lead was 65 over Scott Dixon. With a win worth 50 points, it seemed Mr. Ashley Judd was well on his way to his first IRL title.

But Dixon ripped off three straight wins, and now, voil , he's right there.

And if you figure in Tony Kanaan, who's won two straight and trails Franchitti by 52 points, it's a three-way battle.

I'll admit Kanaan needs a lot of help. But stranger things have happened, right? Probably. Somewhere.

But I'll still bet on Franchitti.

I consider him one of the luckiest men alive. He's married to the jaw-dropping Judd, he's won the Indy 500 and now he's walked away from two of the scariest crashes in recent memory.

The only thing missing from his life is an IRL title.

And, after the last race in Chicagoland on Sept. 9, I believe he'll have that, too.