Saturday, May 17, 2003
TODAY AT THE TRACK:
| 8 a.m. | Public gates open; Hall of Fame Museum, IMS gift shops open |
| 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | IndyCarTM Series practice |
| 1:40 p.m. | IRL Infiniti Pro Series Freedom 100 driver introductions |
| 2 p.m. | Billy Gibbons, lead singer of ZZ Top, waves the green flag to start the Freedom 100 |
| 3:15-6 p.m. | IndyCar Series practice |
| 6 p.m. | End of the day press conference |
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ABC announcer Bob Jenkins received an award today at the track from the Michigan Automobile Racing Fan Club today at the track for his outstanding television coverage of auto racing for ABC and ESPN over the last two decades.
Jenkins is the host of ABC and ESPN telecasts of IRL IndyCar™ Series events.
The Michigan Automobile Racing Fan Club has more than 1,500 members.
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The "Friends of the Fox" head injury support group is making its fifth annual visit to the Speedway today. Head-injury survivors and their families tour the Speedway, including the Gasoline Alley garages.
"Friends of the Fox" was founded by late Indianapolis 500 veteran Stan Fox, who suffered a head injury in a first-lap accident during the 1995 Indianapolis 500. After his recovery, Fox formed the support group to help those who suffered head injuries and their families.
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INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRACTICE REPORT:
At 10 a.m., the ambient temperature was 63 degrees with east-southeast winds at 11 mph and a relative humidity of 87 percent. Skies were cloudy.
10 a.m. - GREEN.
10:05 a.m. -- #27 Gordon first on track. Andretti Green Racing reports he will be in Indianapolis until 1 p.m. before departing for Charlotte, N.C., for tonight's NASCAR Winston Cup "Winston Open" qualifying race.
10:15 a.m. - YELLOW. Moisture. #20 Barron turned five laps, #27 Gordon turned four laps, and #3 Castroneves turned two laps.
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FREEDOM 100 RACE SPECIFICS:
·The green flag to start the race will be shown on the third time past the flag stand.
·The field will be brought to the start of the race at approximately 70 mph.
·The race is 40 laps/100 miles.
·Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford will drive the Pace Car.
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Sarah Fisher, driver of the No. 23 Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone in the IndyCar Series for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, will be announcing on the public address with Dave Calabro during the Freedom 100.
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FREEDOM 100 PRE-RACE:
At 1:45 p.m., the ambient temperature was 66 degrees with a relative humidity of 84 percent and east winds at 12 mph. Skies were overcast. The track temperature was 80 degrees, according to Firestone engineers.
1:57 p.m. - Command to start engines by Mari Hulman George, chairman of the board, Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Engines on all 19 starters fired. All starters on track for pace laps.
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Billy Gibbons, lead singer of rock band ZZ Top, will wave the green flag to start the Freedom 100.
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FREEDOM 100 RACE RUNNING:
Lap 1: GREEN. #14 Carpenter leads into Turn 1. YELLOW. #12 Beardsley did a 180-degree spin in Turn 3 and took #36 Medeiros to the outside retaining wall. Both cars made contact with the SAFER Barrier on the outside retaining wall in Turn 3. Cars came to rest in the grass strip between the warm-up lane and the track in Turn 4. Both cars suffered heavy damage. Both drivers helped from their cars by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy Racing League safety teams.
Lap 4: #6 Cioci to pits. Crew is replacing the nose of the car, which was damaged when Cioci hit debris from the Lap 1 accident. #5 Luyendyk also to pits with smoke coming from car. Crew reports an alternator fire. Luyendyk climbs from car.
Lap 5: Top 10: #14 Carpenter, #4 Taylor, #20 Simmons, #91 Fike, #92, Witherill, #8 Johncox, #3 Urlin, #24 Dana, #11 Quintanilla, #25 Harrington.
Lap 8: #37 Roe being towed to pits. Roe climbs from car. Crew reports gearbox problem.
Lap 10: GREEN.
Lap 11: #14 Carpenter leads into Turn 1. YELLOW. #33 Dollansky did a half-spin to the left, slid into the grass between the warm-up lane and the track in Turn2. The car then slid across the track, made contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 with the front of the car. Car then slid to the inside of the track and came to a rest at the exit of Turn 2. Heavy damage to the front of the car. Dollansky was helped from the car by members of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy Racing League safety crews.
Lap 13: RED. Rain.
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The last time that an Infiniti Pro Series race was affected by rain was July 2002 at Michigan International Speedway when A.J. Foyt IV won after 30 of the 50 laps had been completed. Rain forced the race to end early.
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Medical update from Dr. Henry Bock, medical services director for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League: Thiago Medeiros has been transported by ground to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for X-rays on his left knee. Craig Dollansky has also been transported by ground to Methodist Hospital for further evaluation of back pain. Both drivers are awake and alert. Matt Beardsley is in good condition with a small chin laceration and has been checked and released from the Clarian Emergency Medical Center in the infield of IMS. Beardsley is cleared to drive.
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Quote from Billy Gibbons, lead singer of rock group ZZ Top, about waving the green flag to start the Freedom 100:
BILLY GIBBONS: "This is something a little new to us, but there is nothing to be unexpected in this life of wildness. At least it is loud." (About the concert tonight in Indianapolis): "We come out ready to roll. The more fun they have, it turns out it becomes a circular event, the more fun we have. There is something for everybody."
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FREEDOM 100 RAIN DELAY QUOTES:
ARIE LUYENDYK JR.:"The start was not so great for me. I fell back a few positions. It was kind of a blessing in disguise because the big accident happened right in front of me, and I was able to avoid it. So I thought our luck had changed for this year, but it turns out that the alternator caught on fire. We don't know why. It put us out of the race. I just feel bad for all of the great sponsors that came on board. Smith & Wesson came on board for this race, and Grill 2 Go stepped up to be our major sponsor. There are a lot of people out here cheering us on, and we were definitely going to make a run for the win here, so I'm a little disappointed." (Did you see the accident happen in front of you?): "(Matt) Beardsley just got loose on his own, and Thiago (Medeiros) couldn't avoid him. He went high, but that's where Matt went. Everyone just really wants to do really good in this race. I think they all got on it a little too soon. That's why I fell back a little bit because I had to see how my car was before I could go full bore. I'm glad I didn't get involved in the wreck, but unfortunately we had this fire, and it put us out."
MATT BEARDSLEY: "I went into Turn 3. The car got just a little loose. Someone got behind me and took the air off the back of the car. I got a little wiggle, I got it back, and it just snapped around. I knew it was too far. I just tried to hold on and get on the brakes. The thing hit pretty good."
JONATHAN URLIN: "We were feeling really, really good. We had the right gear setup. We're there. I don't know if our actual handling setup is there yet because we didn't really have time to get going good, but I think once we get up to speed, we'll definitely be all right. I'm looking forward to going back out." (About the start): "It was so good. I can't even believe it. Everybody slowed down -- I think they were just kind of intimidated with all the cold tires on the first lap of the Freedom 100 -- but I kind of took it a little bit quicker and gained four positions, so I loved it. I loved it more than anything else we've done here this week. I'm really happy. I think we're looking really good if we can continue this race." (How does the rain delay affect you?): "It's fine. I'm going to grab some water, shake some hands, talk to my family and get back out there. This is a new thing for me. I've never been able to be in the pits, dressed in street clothes, but still be in the middle of a race. It's kind of crazy, but it's all right. I'm just going to fill my belly and say hi to people."
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Entry update:
·No. 20T from Mo Nunn Racing has been removed.
·No. 66T was leased from Penske Racing to Sam Schmidt Motorsports and is now the No. 99 Contour Hardening Special Panoz G Force/Toyota/Firestone entered by Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Richie Hearn is the driver.
·No. 98T is now the No. 44 Pedigo Chevrolet Panther Racing Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone. Robby McGehee is the driver.
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FREEDOM 100 RAIN DELAY QUOTES (cont.):
ED CARPENTER: "It is very frustrating. We had a great car and a great weekend going. To start and just run a couple of corners and then have the yellow come out, it just teases you. We will have to wait it out and see what happens, but it is a nice feeling to have a good car under me."
MARK TAYLOR: "It's really disappointing. We had enough time to maybe finish the race. It's difficult to explain. The front row was behaving themselves. I don't think anyone else was. Unfortunately, we weren't able to finish the laps. Hopefully we'll be able to get a run in tomorrow. If not, it's very disappointing to not get to run at a great place like this." (Did you run enough to know who had the stronger car between you and the 14 car?): "It would have been interesting. We were very close. We both got away on that second restart, and it would have been a really good race with him. It might change tomorrow and the cars will change, but it should still be close."
AARON FIKE: "We only got half a lap or three-quarters of a lap up to speed. I think we have a good car. We got a couple of cars at the start of the race, but I can't tell you what kind of race it's going to be. I don't know if it's going to be as bunched up as I thought it would be or not. I know it will be a close race. No one will walk away with it." (On the delay): "Mother Nature has not been special to us today. We'll still have a good race car. We got through Turn 1, and we were single-file, so I think it will be a good race."
CORY WITHERILL: "It wasn't too bad considering we started seventh and moved up to fifth. You can't really complain about that. We knew we were starting in the fourth row and had to pace ourselves and take out time to move to the front." (Were you close to any of the incidents?): "I got a view. It happened right in front of me. Basically what happened was I think it was Matt Beardsley. He was right in front of me. I just passed Thiago (Medeiros), and Beardsley was in front of me. I go to his left, and Thiago goes to my left, and we're going three (wide) across into Turn 3, and I'm in the middle, and I thought: 'This is not right. I don't think this is going to work.' So I backed off the throttle and let the two cars go. One was really low, and one was really high, and I thought, 'They aren't going to see each other.' The next thing I know, Thiago goes diving underneath the other car and just loses and cuts the wind out of Beardsley, and both of them crashed into the wall. I don't think they made contact right at the very beginning. One lost it being too long, and the other was in the wrong place and the wrong time and had the wind taken off his wings."
JEFF SIMMONS:"On the start, I had a pretty good run, just not enough to get into the lead. We never really got a chance to feel the car. We never really got up to temperature. We had a little problem on the second restart where my car just started to die. I guess it was just going richer and richer on the gearshifts." (How did it feel going into Turn 1 on the first lap of the Freedom 100): "It was good. I wasn't really thinking about the fact that it was Indy at that point. The whole time around on the warm-up laps, I was thinking about that. But once we started, I was just trying to position my car and give the guys room in front of me when I realized I wasn't going to be able to get by."
GARY PETERSON: "I was just trying to stay out of trouble and keep away from the fast cars. I think our cars, Nos. 25 and 27, will both be good cars in the race. They are both set up well. We just need to get green-flag laps."
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INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRACTICE RAINOUT QUOTES:
KENNY BRACK (No. 15 Rahal/Letterman Miller Lite/Pioneer Dallara/Honda/Firestone): "We didn't get to do anything today, but meeting Billy Gibbons was a great thrill. I have been a fan of his music for a long time, and my band plays a ZZ Top song too, 'Tush.' He is into cars and follows racing quite a bit. He is from Houston, too. I lived there when I raced for A.J. (Foyt) so we talked about Texas a little, too. I'm going to see ZZ Top tonight and get backstage. That's very cool. He was even talking music and guitars with me, and I was talking racing with him. It was great. I'm excited to see Billy play tonight."
JIMMY VASSER (No. 19 Argent Rahal/Letterman Dallara/Honda/Firestone): "It was a little frustrating not getting out today. We wanted to get a little bit of qualifying setups ready for Sunday. But I think we can do that on Sunday morning. I think we have a good race car right now. And the qualifying setup should be pretty fast, too. To be honest, I'm more concerned with the race trim than qualifying trim. Starting in the back of the field is more about getting through the field, and I think I have a car to do that. Hey, Billy Gibbons was really cool. I had a 'Tres Hombres' record from ZZ Top when I was young. Billy is into hot rods, too, like me."
SARAH FISHER (No. 23 Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone): "I was a bit disappointed that our practice was rained out because this would have been my first chance to get the 24T car out, which will be the car that I run tomorrow if needed. I hope it doesn't come to that, and that I don't need to use my short-track experience in 'gas it and go'. Today I did as much as I could to keep busy, so I didn't think about tomorrow, which included doing the PA announcing with Dave Calabro for the Infiniti Pro Series race. Dave was great to work with, as always, and I had a great view of the track from the PA booth right behind the flag stand. It's always interesting for me to see another aspect of our series, since I'm usually in the race car and don't get to see the fan cams and listen to the PA while I'm driving my race car. The Pro Series race ended up being red-flagged, and we had to fill some air time, so the most interesting thing that happened after that was watching the Emke Hot Dog-eating contest that Tom Carnegie was emceeing - but I left the booth before I got to see who won."
SHIGEAKI HATTORI (No. 5 EPSON/A.J. Foyt Racing Dallara/Toyota/Firestone): "I'm not worried. We have practice before the qualifying and we had two good tests yesterday. I'm very comfortable in my car."
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Medical update from Dr. Henry Bock, medical services director for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League: Thiago Medeiros has been released in good condition from Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Craig Dollansky has suffered a fracture of his lower spine and will be admitted to Methodist Hospital for treatment.
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At 5 p.m., more rain began falling in the Indianapolis area, and the conclusion of the Freedom 100 was rescheduled for 10:15 a.m. Sunday.
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Practice for non-qualified IndyCar Series cars will take place from 11:15-noon tomorrow. Bump Day qualifying for the 87th Indianapolis 500 will begin at 12:30 p.m.
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Veterans Richie Hearn and Robby McGehee will attempt to qualify for the 87th Indianapolis 500 on Bump Day, May 18, in entry changes filed May 17.
Hearn, 32, will drive the No. 99 Contour Hardening Special Panoz G Force/Toyota/Firestone. The car was entered by Penske Racing, the winningest team in Indianapolis 500 history, as the No. 66T before team owner Sam Schmidt leased it and fielded it as a Sam Schmidt Motorsports entry. Hearn has made three Indianapolis 500 starts, with a best finish of third as a rookie in 1996. He made nine starts for Sam Schmidt Motorsports in the 2002 IRL IndyCar Series season with a best finish of fourth at Nashville. He finished sixth in the Indianapolis 500 in a Schmidt entry.
McGehee, from St. Louis, will drive the No. 44 Pedigo Chevrolet Panther Racing Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone as a teammate to two-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. and 1998 Indianapolis 500 MBNA Pole winner Billy Boat. The car originally was entered by Panther as the No. 98T.
SAM SCHMIDT: "I appreciate the support that Penske Racing and Toyota have provided me in our quest to compete in the 2003 Indianapolis 500. Without the dedication of many people, this program would not have come together. I look forward to competing in my third Indianapolis 500 as an owner and hope to repeat our success of last season."
RICHIE HEARN: "I'm relieved more than anything. It's been a long month. It's hard to walk around here, knowing you can do a good job. There weren't a lot of opportunities, and when they did come I was quite not getting them. So I was happy that I got a pretty good deal for the race here." (Are you happy to have the combination that you do?): "There's no concern on the car and the engine. Everything should be great. I just have to get up to speed myself, which I'm not going to worry about. I just have to keep my nose clean and I know the car will be there in the end. If we had gotten out today, we'd be pretty lucky. I was already mentally prepared to come out Sunday morning. We just need to make sure everything is right for when we go out Sunday morning."
ROBBY McGEHEE: "I feel so lucky to be here and appreciative that (team co-owner) John Barnes and Panther Racing would bring me in to run a third car. Obviously we would have preferred to have practice. I feel so lucky to be here and appreciative that John Barnes and Panther Racing would bring me in to run a third car. I'm going to take them as they come. I learned a long time ago that there are certain things that you can't in racing and one of them is the weather."
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Armed Forces Day will take place May 18, which also is Bump Day, the final day of qualifications. Any present or past member of the U.S. Armed Forces in uniform will be admitted to the track for free. The Armed Forces also will be honored during a ceremony at 9:30 a.m. (EST). The first 3,000 fans to the plaza area receive a free "Art in Motion" Indy 500 die-cast car. "Jackson Pain" will perform on the Coca-Cola Stage at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
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INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRACTICE RAINOUT QUOTES (cont.):
ALEX BARRON (No. 20 Meijer Mo Nunn Racing Panoz G Force/Toyota/Firestone): "It would have been nice to get some laps in today, but I'm pretty confident we're going to be all right. I wouldn't necessarily say that if we were a one-car team, but we've been at it all month long with three cars, and there is plenty of data to support what we want to do in qualifying on Sunday. I got comfortable in the Meijer car right away on Thursday. I'm very familiar with the Toyota-G Force package. We'll definitely get at least some shakedown laps in before we qualify, so that being the case, we're pretty sure what to expect in qualifying. Barring the unexpected, of course. The nice thing is the guys had a chance to cut out early today and take it easy for a change. It's been a long month for them already. For me, I'm ready to drive because I sat around for two weeks!"
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Saturday tickets will be valid for a $5 ticket discount Sunday.
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Infiniti Pro Series teams are allowed to work on their cars overnight, according to Indy Racing League officials.
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