IndyCar driver Scott Dixon, retired racer Dario Franchitti robbed at Taco Bell
Verizon IndyCar Series Scott Dixon and retired racer Dario Franchitti were robbed at gunpoint in a Taco Bell drive-thru Sunday night, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police reported.
No one was injured in the encounter.
According to the police report, the robbery occurred around 10 p.m. ET, just hours after Dixon won the pole for the Indianapolis 500. The Taco Bell is located less than a mile away from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police said they arrested two teenagers, ages 14 and 15, in connection with the robbery of credit cards and other personal valuables from Dixon, his wife, and Franchitti. Both teens were charged with robbery, and the 15-year old was also charged with resisting law enforcement.
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The report lists Dixon’s wife, Emma Davies-Dixon, as a third victim of the robbery, but Police spokesman Aaron Hamer said Dixon's wife was not in the vehicle at the time and the investigation was ongoing.
Tony Kanaan, Dixon’s Chip Ganassi Racing teammate said, said Dixon had his wife’s wallet at the time of the incident. Kanaan said Dixon was making a food run for a group of drivers, including himself.
“While they were ordering with their windows down two guys approached at gun point,” Kanaan told The Indianapolis Star. “They held a gun at Dixon’s head and asked him for his wallet and his phone.
“You don’t expect that to happen, especially here.”
Dixon and Franchitti did not speak with reporters Monday.
When robbery detectives arrived at the scene, the officers viewed surveillance footage and noticed a suspicious vehicle had been on the property before the robbery.
"Officers on scene of the robbery informed other officers that were in the area of the suspected vehicle description," said an IMPD statement. "Nearly a half-hour later, officers located the vehicle in question and were able to stop the car which had driven away from the scene."
Police said one of the suspects attempted to run but was caught by a K-9 officer. By the end of the incident, the two boys were taken into custody on suspicion of felony robbery. One suspect was transported to the Marion County Holding at Eskenazi Hospital and the other was sent to the Juvenile Detention Center, police said. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will review the case and make a charging decision.
Dixon, the 2008 Indy 500 winner and a four-time series champion, is set to lead the field to green after turning in a four-lap average speed of 232.163 mph during the Fast Nine qualifying session.
Franchitti, a former teammate of Dixon at Ganassi and a four-time IndyCar series champion, won the Indianapolis 500 three times. The ex-husband of actress Ashley Judd retired from racing after a crash in the Houston Grand Prix in October 2013.
The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network, contributed to this report.