By Dave Lewandowski
indy500.com
Monday, May 12, 2008
A.J. Foyt Racing announced May 12 that it has hired veteran Jeff Simmons to drive the No. 41 ABC Supply Dallara/Honda/Firestone in the 92nd Indianapolis 500 as a teammate to Darren Manning, driver of the No. 14 car. Simmons will see his first track time Wednesday, May 14 and attempt to qualify for the 33-car field Saturday, May 17.
Simmons and four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Foyt have a history.
Simmons, 31, went through the 2004 Rookie Orientation Program at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a Foyt car. Three weeks later, he finished second in the Firestone Freedom 100 in a Foyt Firestone Indy Lights car. A few hours later, he was behind the wheel of the No. 21 Mo Nunn Racing car for his initial Indy 500 practice laps. He qualified 29th the next day - Bump Day - and finished 16th in his first 500-Mile Race.
"I was pounding the pavement, trying to see what was out there, and I just told A.J. that if he was considering (entering a second car) to keep me in mind," said Simmons, who will be seeking to qualify for his fourth '500.' "A.J. being a racer at heart, he wants more cars out there if he can do it. I said I'm ready to go, and away we went.
"Weather permitting, we should have a lot more time to get some laps in the car, and obviously I have a lot more experience in an IndyCar in general (than in 2004). When I tried to qualify, I had only 30 or 40 laps.
"I'm looking forward to feeling out the car, getting up to speed and then be very efficient with our time making changes. With the way weather knocked out Sunday, it could work in our favor. We could qualify a little further forward."
Both A.J. Foyt Racing cars will attempt to qualify May 17 as positions 12-33 are open. Darren Manning's lone attempt on Pole Day was waved off. Simmons spent a portion of the day with Manning, team manager Larry Foyt and team owner A.J. Foyt.
"We've already talked about what we need to do to maximize the use of the two cars going into this week," said Simmons, who started 13th and finished 11th last year in the '500' in the No. 17 Team Ethanol car for Rahal Letterman Racing. "I think we should get a good race car, and the qualifying car will come out of that same setup."
Simmons has been competing this season with Team Moore Racing in Firestone Indy Lights, producing two top-10 finishes in three starts. He is entered in the Firestone Freedom 100 on Friday, May 23 in the No. 2 TMR-Xtreme Coil Drilling car. Simmons has seven victories in 37 Firestone Indy Lights starts.
"A.J. is fine with it, and it's another chance to do our version of the double," said Simmons, who is in the process of moving to St. Louis, where his wife will be co-host of a local morning TV show. "Hopefully, we'll have a good race like we did (in 2004). It's a good chance to go out there and get more laps."
In 25 IndyCar Series starts, Simmons has recorded 11 top-10 finishes. His best finish is sixth, which came last year at Texas Motor Speedway. He was replaced in the No. 17 car by Ryan Hunter-Reay in July.
"It would be great if the effort would translate into something for the remainder of the year or later down the line," Simmons said. "Right now, I'm just going to try to do the best job I can for A.J. and for Team Moore. We'll go out and try to do a professional job and get what the car is capable of."
Said Foyt: "I'm glad to be working with Jeff again. I like the way he drives and the way he hustles the car pretty hard which is what I look for in young drivers."
***
Indy 500 tickets on sale: Tickets are on sale for the 2008 Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 25, the 92nd running of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Fans can order tickets online at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or at the ticket office at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Parking and camping information also can be obtained through the ticket office.
Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (ET) Monday-Sunday during May, with special hours of 6 a.m.-1 p.m. on Race Day, Sunday, May 25. Online orders can be made at any time. Race Day ticket prices start at just $20.
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