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Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti was released from a Houston hospital Thursday, four days after fracturing his spine and breaking his right ankle in an IndyCar Series crash. NGolo Kante Jersey . "Im overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and Im thankful to have such a great family and such wonderful friends and fans. Thanks to everyone at the hospital and the track who took such good care of me during my stay in Houston," Franchitti said in a statement. Franchitti was headed back to Indianapolis for further evaluation and will eventually have a second surgery on his ankle. He underwent surgery Sunday night to stabilize his ankle following the accident on the last lap of the Grand Prix of Houston. Target Chip Ganassi Racing released a photo of the four-time series champion before he left the hospital. Franchitti was smiling, surrounded by his two dogs, and aided by a walker. His right leg was in a cast and he was wearing a heavy brace around his torso. He will be replaced by Alex Tagliani in the No. 10 Honda in the Oct. 19 season finale at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., where teammate Scott Dixon will be trying to win his third IndyCar championship. "I look forward to watching Scott, Alex and the Target team next weekend on television, and will be pulling for them as they go for another championship," Franchitti said. Dixon joked Thursday that Franchitti had gotten use of his phone again, "so thats a good sign. He seems to be in good spirits," and has mentioned trying to come to Fontana to watch the race. Although hes glad the team picked Tagliani to as a replacement driver, Dixon said hed have liked to have his longtime teammate in the car next week. "I would have liked Dario to be there and to be in fighting spirits and helping me win the championship," Dixon said. "I think Tag was a solid choice. As a team, the drivers and myself, we dont have much control in situations like that. I think they picked the best guy. Im great friends with Tag. We hang out a fair bit, and it makes it an easy transition." Dixon takes a 25-point lead over Helio Castroneves into the finale. He was down 49 points going into last weekends doubleheader at Houston, where he won the first race and finished second on Sunday. Castroneves said Franchitti was slow to respond this week to emails from drivers, but is finally communicating. "He mentioned that he is on a lot of painkillers, so hes not feeling so much," Castroneves said Thursday. "He is joking right now hes not feeling much. But we are very glad -- I mean, it could be more serious than that." Franchitti was injured when his car made contact with Takuma Satos car in Turn 5 and sailed into the fence. It tore a section of fencing out before his car bounced back onto the track. Debris scattered into the grandstand, injuring 13 fans and an IndyCar official. Castroneves said the fence at Reliant Park worked in that it kept Franchittis car inside the course. Dixon praised the new DW-12 car, introduced last season. "What the car went through and how Darios crash sort of played out, you know, he was lucky. The car did exactly what it should have," Dixon said. "Having seen the car after the wreck, its done its job. I think we definitely saw the advantages of some of the safety things that have been added to the cars throughout the years, and IndyCar is as always ever pushing on and trying to make them safer, and they are. "But still reality, man. Its racing, fast cars, and some tricky positions sometimes." Loic Remy Chelsea Jersey . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. John Terry Chelsea Jersey . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. http://www.chelseafcsoccershop.com/...elsea-fc-jersey.aspx . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. NEW YORK -- San Diegos Andrew Cashner won and Clevelands Vinnie Pestano lost as pitchers split decisions Saturday in baseballs first salary arbitration cases in two years. Cashner will make $2.4 million rather than the clubs offer of $2,275,000 -- the smallest gap this year among cases that didnt settle. Pestano, among four Indians left in arbitration, will make $975,000 instead of his request for $1.45 million. Cleveland outfielder Michael Brantley and right-handers Justin Masterson and Josh Tomlin are among the 13 players left in arbitration from among the 146 who filed last month, and hearings are scheduled through Feb. 20. Right-hander Jeff Samardzija and the Chicago agreed Saturday to a one-year deal worth $5,345,000. He had asked for $6.2 million and had been offered $2,765,000 by the Cubs after going 8-13 with a 4.34 ERA last year, when he made $2,765,000. Cashner, a 27-year-old right-hander was 10-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 26 starts and five relief appearances last season, when he made $500,800. Arbitrators Gil Vernon, Elizabeth Neumeister and Robert Herzog made the decision a day after hearing arguments in St. Petersburg, Fla. Pestano, a rightt-hander who turns 29 on Feb. Gary Cahill Chelsea Jersey. 20, was 1-2 with a 4.08 ERA in 37 relief appearances last year and made $501,900. His case was decided by arbitrators Matt Irvings, Matt Goldberg and Steven Wolf. Cleveland had not been to a hearing since 1991, when pitcher Greg Swindell beat the Indians and infielder Jerry Browne lost. Baseball is having its first salary arbitration hearings in two years. Last year was the first time all cases settled without any hearings. No player had gone to a hearing since Feb. 15, 2012, when Pittsburgh outfielder Garrett Jones argued his case against the Pirates in a case won by the club the following day. Teams have a 292-215 advantage in decisions since arbitration began in 1974. Others with pending cases include Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel, Boston left-hander Andrew Miller, Cincinnati right-hander Homer Bailey, Kansas City right-hander Greg Holland, Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen, Oakland outfielder Josh Reddick, San Francisco first baseman Brandon Belt, Seattle first baseman Justin Smoak, Texas first baseman Mitch Moreland and Washington right-hander Tyler Clippard. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Auston Matthews Jersey ' ' '