Indianapolis 500 Daily Trackside Report -- May 28
Sunday, May 28, 2006

Good morning.

Anton H. (Tony) George, chief executive officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation, members of the Hulman-George family and the entire Speedway and Indy Racing League staff welcome you to the World's Greatest Race Course and the 90th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

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90th INDIANAPOLIS 500 ORDER OF THE DAY (all times local):

6 a.m. Military bomb signifies opening of track
8 a.m. Spectacle of Bands
10 a.m. Celebrity red carpet entrance
10:30 a.m. Josh Kelley performance on Coca-Cola stage
11 a.m. 500 Festival Princess lap begins
11:30 a.m. "On the Banks of the Wabash" - Purdue University Band
Cars placed in position
11:33 a.m. Vintage Plane flyover
11:41 a.m. Celebrity/VIP Parade Laps
11:50 a.m. Marion County Sheriff Motorcycle Drill Team
Engine warmup period (10 minutes)
12:05 p.m. Military Recognition March behind Chevrolet Silverado vehicles
12:12 p.m. Live Music by Staind on Pagoda stage
12:24 p.m. "God Bless America" - Florence Henderson, Victory Podium
12:30 p.m. Driver Introductions
12:55:30 p.m. National anthem - Members of U.S. Armed Forces, Victory Podium
Military flyover
12:57 p.m. "Drivers To Your Cars" announcement
12:59 p.m. Invocation, Archbishop Daniel Buechlein
1 p.m. "Taps" - Purdue University Band
1:02:20 p.m. "Back Home Again in Indiana" - Jim Nabors, Victory Podium
Balloon Spectacle
1:03:40 p.m. "Lady and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines" - Mari Hulman George, Victory Podium
1:04 p.m. 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Pace Car leads Parade Lap and Pace Laps - driven by Lance Armstrong
1:11:40 p.m. Start of the 90th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race

Note: Subject to change due to weather.

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The Speedway's Daily Trackside Report system will provide you with information throughout and after the 90th Indianapolis-500 Race, including race running, statistical and scoring information, records and the unofficial and final box scores. Prize money will be announced at the Victory Celebration on Monday night.

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The 91st Indianapolis 500-Mile Race is scheduled for Sunday, May 27, 2007. Ticket information can be found in a foldout page between pages 16-17 of the 2006 Indianapolis 500 Official Program. Ticket information also can be obtained by calling the Speedway's ticket office, (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY, or by logging on to www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.

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Brian Barnhart, an Indianapolis native, is the president and chief operating officer of the Indy Racing League. He is the chief official of the 90th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

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Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will drive the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Official Pace Car leading the field to the start of the 90th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. During caution periods in the race, three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford, from Fort Worth, Texas, will be the driver. Jim Haynes, from Phoenix, will serve as observer from the Pace Car. Under the caution, cars will close up behind the Pace Car.

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The 33-car field, aligned in the traditional 11 rows of three, will get the green flag on the third time past the flag stand. The starters for the Indy Racing League are Bryan Howard of Lomita, Calif., and Paul Blevin, of Riverside, Calif. Both are in their 10th year.

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Bobby Santos III won the 61st "Night Before the 500" USAC National Midget Car Series event Saturday night at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

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Bryan Tyler led the final 90 laps to win the 58th "Little 500" USAC Sprint Car event Saturday night at Anderson Speedway.

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Five members of the United States Armed Forces - one each from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy - will sing the National Anthem before the start of the 90th Indianapolis 500 today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The singers are: U.S. Air Force, Staff Sgt. Edward "Justin" Allen; U.S. Army Guard, Sgt. Jennifer Castle; U.S. Coast Guard, (MU1) Lisa Taylor; U.S. Marine Corps, Gunnery Sgt. Remayl Shaffer-Hardy, U.S. Navy, Petty Officer (MU3) Landon Crissup.

Allen and Shaffer-Hardy are Indiana natives.

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PRE-RACE HISTORICAL RACE NOTES:

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On this date in 2000, Juan Pablo Montoya won the Indianapolis 500 for Chip Ganassi's second win as a team owner. Ganassi was co-owner of Patrick Racing's entry in 1989 when Emerson Fittipaldi won the race. Incidentally, that race also took place May 28.

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Did you know?: The winner's wreath debuted at Indy in 1960 when Jim Rathmann showcased an exotic-looking, dark yellow and brown flower wreath after winning the 44th Indianapolis 500, while in 1936 Louis Meyer began the tradition of drinking milk in Victory Lane after he requested a glass of buttermilk. A dairy industry executive happened to see a photographof Meyer drinking the buttermilk in Victory Lane. Thinking it was regular milk, he vowed to make sure that this tradition would be carried on in the coming years.

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PRE-RACE CELEBRITY RED CARPET QUOTES:

CARMELO ANTHONY (NBA star, co-owner, Carmelo Hemelgarn Racing): "It's going to be a great day. Everybody is excited about the race, the drivers. I'm looking forward to being part of a great, safe race. I've never been here. This is my first Indy 500. I've watched it before on TV, and it's incredible. I don't know what to expect, but I'm ready for it. I'll be in the pits for the start. I can't wait."

PATRICK DEMPSEY (Actor, co-owner, Vision Racing): "Coming back is quite an honor. This is an incredible experience. I'm very excited and optimistic about the race. I really enjoy being here. I love the people and the organization and the drivers who are here. I really enjoy my time." (Of all the things you could be doing, why racing and why the Indy 500?): "I guess because I grew up watching the '500.' To be a part of it now, I really love it." (Did you have a favorite driver in those years watching the 500?): "There are a lot of drivers I've always followed. A.J. Foyt is certainly a personality you have to think of when you think of the '500.' And I was talking to today to Jr. (Al Unser Jr.). To see him back in the car is great. I've always been a big fan of his. It's hard to say favorite, because the more you get to know them, the more you love them all." (Predictions on a winner for today?): "I think we (Vision drivers Tomas Scheckter, Townsend Bell, Ed Carpenter) have a really good shot. I think (Scott) Dixon has a good shot too. I think he's a sleeper and then, Penske, you never know. I think it's going to depend on how everything plays itself out. The temperature is going to make it a lot more competitive and make it a great race. I hope it's a safe race, first and foremost. I hope our team does well. I hope we're there at the end."

ANGIE EVERHART (Model): "I'm here for the beer. Go Danica!"

JORGE GARCIA (Actor): "I'm coming to see the race. I got invited to come and be a part of the whole spectacle. America wants Danica (Patrick) to win, but I'm also pulling for Tony Kanaan. We ran into him a couple nights ago. He seems pretty cool, and now I have someone to root for."

SUGAR RAY LEONARD (Former champion boxer): "This has been an incredible experience for me. It's been just remarkable and exhilarating. Words cannot describe the energy here. This is my first time here, and it won't be my last. I went around the track with Al Unser in the Pace Car. Scary! But wonderful." (Have you watched the race before?): "I will now." (Do you have any drivers you're cheering for today?): "Cheering for Eddie Cheever and Danica Patrick."

LUDACRIS (Musician, actor): "I wanted to come because Michael Andretti coming out of retirement means a lot. I think it's a beautiful thing. I have my heart set on him to win. I've been to the Daytona (500) before - this is my first time at Indy - and seeing that this is bigger than Daytona, I just wanted to be here. I know this is a competitive sport just like rap is, so I can relate."

MICHAEL MADSEN (Actor): "I brought my sons to see the race. My youngest one here, I'd like him to be a driver some day. I think he has some natural abilities, and I'd like to see him race some day. What better thing to do than take him to the Indy 500? It's the biggest sporting spectacle in the world. There's nothing like the Indy 500. This is huge."

PAT O'BRIEN (Television host): "This is spectacular. It is a place that I have always wanted to come to. The energy is amazing. I can't wait to hear the engines start."

LALA VASQUEZ (MTV VJ, fiancée of NBA star and IndyCar Series team co-owner Carmelo Anthony): "I'm excited about it. This is my first race. I'm just looking forward to P.J. (Chesson) and his car doing well in the race. This is a really fun time." (About what she thinks about P.J. Chesson): "I like him. He has a great personality. He has a real, great personality which works with Carmelo (Anthony). I think it's a great team."

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Playa Del Racing announced primary sponsorship agreement with Ethos Environmental for the #12 Panoz/Honda/Firestone entry to be driven by Roger Yasukawa, and an associate sponsorship agreement on the #21 Videopoker.com Panoz/Honda/Firestone entry driven by Jaques Lazier for the Indianapolis 500. Ethos Environmental is a manufacturer and distributor of a unique line of fuel reformulating products under the name Ethos Fuel Reformulators, or Ethos FR. Ethos is conceived to work with any fuel in an internal combustion engine. It adds cleaning and lubricating qualities to any type of fuel or motor oil, allowing engines to perform cooler, smoother and with more vigor.

ENRIQUE VILMORIN (Ethos Environmental CEO): "We're very excited to participate in the development of this type of race team. We are not supporting the big guys, but we are here at the Indy 500 because of the grassroots racer - we love their spirit. Like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and this great race, we wanted to pay tribute to their history with the support of a team that is going about racing the old-fashioned way…through hard work and determination. Ethos Environmental is very happy to join with one of the Indy Racing League's teams, Playa Del Racing, in participating in the development of the renewable energy fuels markets, like ethanol."

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Checkers Drive-In Restaurants announced that it is working with Cheever Racing to demonstrate support for Operation Gratitude and US Troops.

RICHARD S. TURER, Vice President of Marketing, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.: "This year marks Checkers®/Rally's fourth year as a category-exclusive sponsor of the Indy 500. Cheever Racing is giving us the opportunity to reinforce our support for Operation Gratitude and our brave men and women in uniform. The No. 52 will feature the logo for Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit dedicated to sending care packages to troops deployed overseas. Our restaurants across the country are collecting gifts for Operation Gratitude¹s packages, and we are honored to have the opportunity to showcase their mission. Max is back, and we wish him the best of luck on Race Day."

MAX PAPIS (No. 52 Cheever Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone): "Displaying the Operation Gratitude logo to bring attention to Checkers/Rally's initiative in support of troops for the biggest race in the world is a great honor. It is a great program and I'm happy to be a part of it. I'm from Italy, but America has welcomed me into their country and my wife and I make our home here. I'm very proud of our troops and what they are sacrificing to give us the opportunity to go race tomorrow."

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Max Papis is carrying a Pineapple decal in honor of former open-wheel racing standout Alex Zanardi, who helmet carried a pineapple decal on his own helmet.

MAX PAPIS (No. 52 Cheever Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone): "I spoke with Alex a couple of days ago and one of the promises I made to him was to carry the pineapple both on my helmet and on my car. You know, pineapple, Alex is a hard-headed guy. I'm going to be carrying the pineapple with me on the car and on my helmet, and he's going to be here in soul with me." (About his relationship with Zanardi): "He's like my brother. We've known each other since we were twelve years old. We got to know each other on the go-kart track and we developed a great relationship after being teammates both in Formula 1 and Formula 3 and other different things. And he is one of the closest guys to me."

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10 WARMEST INDIANAPOLIS 500 RACE DAYS (1911-2005)

(Data from National Weather Service, Indianapolis)

Year Race Date High Temp (F) Race Winner
1937 May 31 92 Wilbur Shaw
1919 May 31 91 Howdy Wilcox
1953 May 30 91 Bill Vukovich
1977 May 29 90 A.J. Foyt
1978 May 28 90 Al Unser
1929 May 30 89 Ray Keech
1934 May 30 88 Bill Cummings
1913 May 30 87 Jules Goux
1921 May 30 87 Tommy Milton
1972 May 27 87 Mark Donohue

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Golf legend Jack Nicklaus is at the Speedway today.

JACK NICKLAUS: "It's a little busier than the last time I was here. We just took a spin around the track, and you start to look at the people who come to this, and man, there are a lot of people who come here." (About this experience): "It's something you have to do once in your life."

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RACE SPECIFICS FROM SATURDAY'S DRIVER'S MEETING:

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INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRE-RACE:

At 12:45 p.m., the ambient temperature was 86 degrees with a relative humidity of 67 percent. Winds were from the south-southwest at 9 mph. Skies were partly cloudy. Track temperature was 120 degrees, according to Firestone engineers.

1:04 p.m. - Command to fire engines by Mari Hulman George, chairman of the board, Indianapolis Motor Speedway. All 33 cars started and rolling on the track.

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INDIANAPOLIS 500 RACE RUNNING:

Lap 1: Boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard throws green flag. #6 Hornish leads field into Turn 1. #3 Castroneves passes for lead in Turn 3 and brings #10 Wheldon with him. Hornish falls to third. Castroneves leads Wheldon at the line by .1285 of a second.

Lap 2: YELLOW. Teammates#92 Bucknum and #91 Chesson make contact in Turn 2. #92 Bucknum does a full-spin and collects #91 Chesson. Both cars make contact with the SAFER Barrier. There is moderate damage to the front and left-rear of #92 Bucknum. There is moderate front-end damage to #91 Chesson. Both drivers climb from their car without assistance. Leaders under caution are: #3 Castroneves, #10 Wheldon, #6 Hornish, #11 Kanaan, #2 Scheckter.

Lap 6 pit stop report: Fuel only -- #97 Gregoire, nine seconds; #61 Luyendyk, six seconds. Four tires, fuel -- #98 Jones, 16 seconds.

Lap 7: GREEN. #3 Castroneves leads field into Turn 1.

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#3 Helio Castroneves led at the end of Lap 1. Castroneves also led the opening lap in 2003, which was the year his teammate Gil de Ferran won the race. Castroneves' teammate for this year's race is WorldPoints Visa Pole sitter, Sam Hornish Jr.

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Lap 10: #10 Wheldon passes #3 Castroneves for the lead. He leads at the line by. 4491 of a second.

Lap 15: #10 Wheldon leads #6 Hornish by 1.2551 seconds.

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Medical update from Dr. Henry Bock, IRL and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Senior Director of Medical Services: P.J. Chesson and Jeff Bucknum have been checked and released from the Clarian Medical Center. Both are cleared to drive.

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Lap 20: #10 Wheldon leads #6 Hornish by 1.8873 seconds.

Lap 23: #11 Kanaan makes pass of #6 Hornish for second place. Pit report: #18 Medeiros, #98 Jones to pits. Front and rear wing adjustment for Jones, car handling was loose, 39 seconds. Four tires and fuel for #18 Medeiros, 13 seconds.

Lap 25: #18 Medeiros given black flag for pit-speed violation. #6 Hornish passes #11 Kanaan for lead on the backstretch for second. #10 Wheldon leads #6 Hornish by .9669 of a second. Pit report: #7 Herta to pits, four tires, fuel, tire pressure adjustment, 11 seconds.

Lap 26: #61 Luyendyk to pits, adjustment, 11 seconds.

Lap 27: #41 Foyt to pits, four tires, fuel, 21 seconds.

Lap 28: #14 Giaffone to pits. #18 Medeiros to garage with electrical problem.

Lap 30: Working heavy traffic, #10 Wheldon leads #6 Hornish by 5.9697 seconds. Pit report: #97 Gregoire to pits, four tires, fuel, front and rear wing adjustment, 19 seconds.

Lap 31: #12 Yasukawa to pits, four tires, fuel, 13 seconds.

Lap 32: #55 Yasukawa to pits, four tires, fuel, 13 seconds.

Lap 34: #21 J. Lazier to pits, four tires, fuel, 13 seconds.

Lap 35: Leader #10 Wheldon on pit road. New leader is #6 Hornish, who leads #11 Kanaan by 1.1702 seconds. Pit report: Four tires, fuel -- #15 Rice, 10 seconds; #10 Wheldon, 11 seconds; #4 Meira, 12 seconds; #2 Scheckter, 12 seconds.

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JEFF BUCKNUM: "I'm not really sure. I spun, and I'm not sure why. It snapped around the back end, and I'm not sure how it happened."

P.J. CHESSON: "I don't know. I'd usually like to say that'd be a rookie mistake, but I don't know. He looked like he was down below the white line and just lost it on the second lap, driving without his head. Unfortunately, he took out his teammate."

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Lap 36: Pit report: Four tires, fuel -- #16 Patrick, 15 seconds; #52 Papis, 13 seconds; #90 Bell, 13 seconds; #1 Mi. Andretti, 14 seconds; #27 Franchitti, 14 seconds; #27 Franchitti, 11 seconds; #14 Giaffone, 14 seconds; #9 Dixon, 11 seconds.

Lap 37 pit report: Four tires, fuel -- #8 Sharp, 14 seconds; #26 Ma. Andretti, 11 seconds;

Lap 38:Lead three cars #11 Kanaan, #6 Hornish and #9 Dixon on pit road. New leader is now #10 Wheldon. Pit report: Four tires, fuel -- #11 Kanaan, 11 seconds; #5 B. Lazier, 16 seconds; #6 Hornish, 11 seconds.

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•#11 Tony Kanaan led the race for the first time today on Lap 38. This is the fifth consecutive year that Kanaan has led the race, starting with his rookie year in 2002. He is the only driver in Indianapolis 500 history to lead five consecutive races starting with his rookie year. Rick Mears, from 1979-84, is the only driver to have led six consecutive races. Mears started his string with his second Indianapolis 500 start.

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LARRY FOYT: "We weren't handling very well out there. We were in the way, and there was no sense in us doing that. We missed on the setup, and we couldn't get it back."

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Lap 40: #10 Wheldon leads #6 Hornish by 12.1765 seconds.

Lap 43: #7 Herta to pits. Handling problem. Team changes rear wing, four tires, fuel. Four minutes, two seconds.

Lap 44: #98 Jones to pits, four tires, fuel, 13 seconds.

Lap 45: #10 Wheldon leads #6 Hornish by 13.7112 seconds.

Lap 47: #41 Foyt to garage, out of race with handling problem.

Lap 48: #97 Gregoire to pits, four tires, fuel, front wing adjustment.

Lap 50: #10 Wheldon leads #6 Hornish by 13.6393 seconds. Track temperature is 124 degrees, according to Firestone engineer.

Lap 52: #61 Luyendyk to pits, four tires, fuel, front and rear wing adjustment.

Lap 55: #55 Matsuura to pits, four tires and fuel, 10 seconds.

Lap 56: #10 Wheldon leads #6 Hornish by 13.0917 seconds. Pit report: #98 Jones to pits, four tires, fuel, 15 seconds; #97 Gregoire out of race, handling.

Lap 60: #10 Wheldon leads #6 Hornish by 13.9483 seconds. #10 Wheldon has lapped 11th-placed Castroneves. Pit report: #14 Giaffone to pits, four tires, fuel, 14 seconds.

Lap 62: #4 Meira to pits, four tires and fuel, 11 seconds; #7 Herta to pits, four tires, fuel, front wing adjustment, 20 seconds.

Lap 63: #15 Rice to pits, four tires and fuel, 10 seconds; #12 Yasukawa to pits, four tires, fuel, stall in pits, 26 seconds.

Lap 65: #9 Dixon makes pass of #6 Hornish for second. #10 Wheldon leads #9 Dixon by 20.6733 seconds.

Lap 66: YELLOW. #2 Scheckter spins off of Turn 4 and makes light contact with the outside retaining wall on the frontstretch. Car does 1½ spins and makes heavy contact with the pit attenuator. Scheckter is assisted from the car by the Delphi IRL Safety Team.

Lap 67: #61 Luyendyk to garage, out of race, handling.

Lap 70: Leaders to pit road for four tires and fuel. #10 Wheldon wins race off of pit road followed by #9 Dixon, #11 Kanaan, #6 Hornish and #27 Franchitti. Pit report: Four tires, fuel - #11 Kanaan, 10 seconds; #26 Ma. Andretti, 12 seconds; #51 Cheever, 10 seconds; #20 Carpenter, 15 seconds; #52 Papis, 12 seconds; #10 Wheldon, 11 seconds; #6 Hornish, nine seconds; #9 Dixon, 10 seconds; #16 Patrick, 13 seconds; #4 Meira, 14 seconds; #8 Sharp, 14 seconds; #1 Mi. Andretti, 13 seconds, dashboard readout problems; #5 B. Lazier, 15 seconds; #31 Unser, 19 seconds; #17 Simmons, 16 seconds; #27 Franchitti, 14 seconds; #88 Dare, 27 seconds. Four tires, fuel, front wing adjustment - #90 Bell, 12 seconds; #3 Castroneves, 11 seconds, short fill on fuel for track position. Four tires, fuel, front and rear wing adjustments - #55 Matsuura, 12 seconds.

Lap 76: Ambient temperature is 87 degrees. Track temperature is 121 degrees, according to Firestone engineers. GREEN. #10 Wheldon leads field into Turn 1.

Lap 80: #10 Wheldon leads #9 Dixon by .3154 of a second.

Lap 85: #10 Wheldon leads #9 Dixon by .4481 of a second.

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Medical update from Dr. Henry Bock, IRL and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Senior Director of Medical Services: Tomas Scheckter has been checked and released from the Clarian Medical Center. He is cleared to drive.

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RON HEMELGARN (Co-owner, #91 Chesson, #92 Bucknum): "It's very disappointing when you have two cars, teammates, take each other out on the first lap. Ten years ago we were in Victory Circle; today we're dead last. That's just part of racing."

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STEPHAN GREGOIRE: "The handling was horrible. It was too dangerous for all the other guys. I think it was wiser to stop so we don't cause any problems."

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ARIE LUYENDYK JR.: "It was pretty good at first. Once the fuel went down, the car was so loose it wasn't even funny how hard it was to drive. It was the first time that thing ever has been like that. Maybe it was the hot conditions. It was just better for me not to be out there. We didn't have a gear to run in between third and fourth to get up to speed. I was just a bystander out there. I was going to crash the thing if I would have been out there the whole day. It was just a moment waiting to happen every corner."

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Lap 90: #10 Wheldon leads #9 Dixon by 3.1587 seconds

Lap 91: #21 J. Lazier to pits, four tires, fuel, 16 seconds.

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When #2 Tomas Scheckter crashed in today's race, it marked the third time in his five-year Indianapolis 500 career that his race ended with an accident (2002, 2005, 2006). In 2003, he finished fourth and completed the full 500-mile distance. In 2004, he finished 18th and was one lap down when the race was cut short at the 180-lap mark due to rain.

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Lap 95: #10 Wheldon leads #9 Dixon by 1.8621 seconds.

Lap 98: #3 Castroneves to pits, four tires, fuel, front wing adjustment, 12 seconds.

Lap 99: #20 Carpenter to pits, four tires, fuel, 12 seconds.

Lap 100: #10 Wheldon leads #9 Dixon by .6960 of a second.

Lap 101: #17 Simmons to pits, four tires, fuel, 11 seconds.

Lap 102: #15 Rice to pits, four tires, fuel, 11 seconds.

Lap 104: #4 Meira to pits, four tires, fuel, 13 seconds.

Lap 105: #10 Wheldon leads #9 Dixon by .4623 of a second. Pit report: #55 Matsuura to pits, four tires, fuel, 12 seconds; #16 Patrick to pits, four tires, fuel, 13 seconds.

Lap 106: Four tires and fuel - #8 Sharp, 11 seconds; #88 Dare, 15 seconds; #12 Yasukawa, 14 seconds.

Lap 107: pit stop report: Four tires and fuel - #90 Bell, 12 seconds; #51 Cheever, 12 seconds; #98 Jones, 19 seconds.

Lap 108: Leader #10 Wheldon and third-place #6 Hornish to pit road. New leader is now #9 Dixon, who leads #11 Kanaan by .49168 of a second. Pit report: Four tires and fuel - #10 Wheldon, 12 seconds; #52 Papis, 12 seconds; #27 Franchitti, 13 seconds; #1 Mi. Andretti, 19 seconds, team reports possible fuel pickup problem; Four tires, fuel, front wing adjustment -- #6 Hornish, 12 seconds.

Lap 109: Leaders, #9 Dixon and #11 Kanaan to pit road. Pit report: Four tires and fuel - #26 Ma. Andretti, 13 seconds; #11 Kanaan, 11 seconds; #7 Herta, 12 seconds; #31 Unser, 13 seconds; #5 B. Lazier, 14 seconds. Four tires, fuel, front wing adjustment -- #9 Dixon, 11 seconds.

Lap 110: #9 Dixon leads #10 Wheldon by .0863 of a second, behind there is a YELLOW. #3 Castroneves and #15 Rice make light wheel-to-wheel contact in the short chute between Turns 3 and 4. Both cars make heavy contact with the SAFER Barrier. There is heavy damage to the right side of both cars. Fire at the back of #15 Rice, which stopped at the exit to Turn 4. Castroneves' car comes to stop against the inside wall. Rice climbs from his car without assistance. Castroneves is assisted from his car by the Delphi IRL Safety Team. Leaders under caution are: #10 Wheldon, #9 Dixon, #6 Hornish, #11 Kanaan, #27 Franchitti.

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TOMAS SCHECKTER: "The race and who crosses who is just up to who got caught behind the back marker … when they're so much off pace, and I think I was pushing harder even though I was behind Kanaan. I was trying a little hard, and I just got loose."

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Lap 114: Pit report: Four tires and fuel - #20 Carpenter, 10 seconds; #4 Meira, nine seconds; #55 Matsuura, 10 seconds, #17 Simmons, 10 seconds; #21 J. Lazier, 17 seconds. Right side tires and fuel: #12 Yasukawa, eight seconds.

Lap 115: The ambient temperature is 89 degrees. The track temperature is 126 degrees. #5 B. Lazier to pits, four tires, fuel, 13 seconds.

Lap 116: #1 Mi. Andretti to pits, four tires and fuel, 12 seconds; #88 Dare to pits, fuel only, eight seconds.

Lap 117: #14 Giaffone to pits, engine cover off, one minute, 53 seconds.

Lap 120: #8 Sharp to pits, fuel only, eight seconds.

Lap 123: GREEN. #10 Wheldon leads field into Turn 1.

Lap 125: #9 Dixon makes pass for the lead in Turn 1. He leads at the line by .2107 of a second.

Lap 128: #10 Wheldon makes pass for the lead going into Turn 3.

Lap 130: #6 Hornish makes pass for the lead going into Turn 1. He leads at the line by .4151 of a second.

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Two former Indianapolis 500 winners, #3 Helio Castroneves (2001-2002) and #15 Buddy Rice (2004) crashed together on Lap 110. This was the first time Castroneves did not complete the full race distance in six Indianapolis 500 career starts. Castroneves' string of consecutive laps completed ended at 1,089. The record for most consecutive laps completed is 1,351 by Wilbur Shaw, whose streak ended with an accident after completing 151 laps in the 1941 Indianapolis 500. Wilbur Shaw's consecutive lap streak began with the 1935 race.

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Medical update from Dr. Henry Bock, IRL and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Senior Director of Medical Services: Helio Castroneves and Buddy Rice have been checked and release from the Clarian Medical Center. They are both clear to drive.

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Lap 135: #6 Hornish leads #10 Wheldon by .2005 of a second.

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Medical update from Dr. Henry Bock, IRL and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Senior Director of Medical Services: Five spectators were slightly injured as a result of the Tomas Scheckter accident at the pit entrance. All five were checked and released from the Clarian Medical Center. All injuries were minor bruises or abrasions. Two fans were hit by the piece of debris that went into the stands. The other fans were either injured by trying to avoid the debris or were struck by the debris.

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Lap 140: #6 Hornish leads #10 Wheldon by .2750 of a second.

Lap 145: #9 Wheldon passes #6 Hornish for the lead in Turn 3. He leads #6 Hornish at the line by .5956 of a second.

Lap 148: YELLOW. #31 Unser does a half-spin and makes heavy contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 3. There is heavy damage to the left side of the car. Unser climbs from the car without assistance of the Delphi IRL Safety Team. Leaders under yellow are: #10 Wheldon , #6 Hornish, #9 Dixon, #11 Kanaan and #27 Franchitti.

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THIAGO MEDEIROS: "I got a good start and was just watching everybody from behind and waiting for the guys to settle down. We had an incident on the first few laps. I passed two guys on the restart. I was getting more confident with the car and working my way up the field, and the car was handling quite well. On the last part of the run, the car was getting loose so we decided to bring it in a little earlier and make some changes to make it better for the next stint. As soon as we changed tires, I turned off the pit speed limiter. I was shifting from third to fourth, and the engine would cut out. I hit the reset button, the fuel map button and the Honda rest button. I reset everything that I could. The engine kept doing that. As a rookie, I was definitely disappointed not to finish the race. It was our goal to finish, and if we finished, we would end up very well. We'll be back next year."

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The last time two former Indianapolis 500 winners were involved in the same accident before today's incident between Helio Castroneves and Buddy Rice was in 1992, when Rick Mears and Emerson Fittipaldi were involved in a four-car accident in Turn 2 on Lap 76.

***

HELIO CASTRONEVES: "I need to know what happened. It is frustrating. There is interesting driving out there. Just want to say, I guess my average (Indy finish) is going to go high now. Let's continue to focus; hopefully win the championship and cheer for Sam."

BUDDY RICE: "We were struggling. We were trying to get a handle on the thing with the right rear tire. Once we got that sorted, we were trying to survive. By the time Michael went by me and those guys were a couple wide, checked up, went down into (Turn) 4, and I had no idea Helio was there. At the last second I heard, 'Inside,' but it was already too late. We bumped once and we still had it, and the way we got collected it was one and done."

***

Lap 145: #17 Simmons to pits, four tires, fuel, 12 seconds, car leaves early with fuel probe still connected in car, with hose tearing.

Lap 146: #7 Herta to pits, four tires, fuel, 12 seconds.

Lap 147: #16 Patrick to pits, four tires, fuel, tire pressure adjustment.

Lap 150: Leaders to pit road. Pit report: Four tires and fuel - #5 B. Lazier, 12 seconds; #27 Franchitti, 14 seconds; #88 Dare, 17 seconds; #98 Jones, 27 seconds; #9 Dixon, nine seconds; #10 Wheldon, 11 seconds; #6 Hornish, 17 seconds, Hornish leaves pits with fuel nozzle attached. Hose breaks. Hornish stops at end of pit box, crew removes nozzle from car; #90 Bell leaves pits with fuel nozzle attached, tearing hose. #8 Sharp, 15 seconds. Fuel only - #17 Simmons, 10 seconds. #10 Wheldon leads off of pit road followed by #9 Dixon, #11 Kanaan and #27 Franchitti.

Lap 151: Pit stop report: Four tires and fuel -- #1 Mi. Andretti, 14 seconds; #98 Jones, 11 seconds; #12 Yasukawa, 12 seconds; #21 J. Lazier, 17 seconds; #4 Meira, 16 seconds; #51 Cheever, 17 seconds; #26 Ma. Andretti, 14 seconds; #11 Kanaan, 13 seconds; #52 Papis, 15 seconds; #20 Carpenter, 13 seconds.

Lap 155: During caution, #17 Simmons makes contact with the SAFER Barrier at the exit of Turn 3. with the right side of the car.

Lap 157: #90 Bell and #6 Hornish assessed drive-through penalties for leaving with equipment attached during pit stops.

Lap 160: Pit report: Four tires and fuel -- #8 Sharp, 13 seconds; #5 B. Lazier, five seconds; #88 Dare, 11 seconds; #14 Giaffone, 13 seconds. Fuel, suspension adjustment -- #1 Mi. Andretti, 14 seconds; Fuel only -- #55 Matsuura, five seconds; #6 Hornish, four seconds; #52 Papis, 15 seconds; #90 Bell, nine seconds; #98 Jones, fuel, nine seconds.

Lap 162: #90 Bell towed to garage, driver out of car.

Lap 163: GREEN. #10 Wheldon leads field into Turn 1. #6 Hornish and #90 Bell to pit lane to heed penalty. Slight contact between #90 Bell and #6 Hornish

***

Medical update from Dr. Henry Bock, IRL and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Senior Director of Medical Services: Al Unser Jr. and Jeff Simmons have been checked and release from the Clarian Medical Center. They are both clear to drive.

***

Lap 165: #10 Wheldon leads #9 Dixon by .2552 of a second.

Lap 167: #26 Andretti passes #27 Franchitti for fourth place.

Lap 170: #10 Wheldon leads #9 Dixon by .2022 of a second. Top-five separated by 1.5752 seconds.

Lap 171: #9 Dixon receives drive-through penalty for blocking.

Lap 175: #9 Dixon to pit road to serve penalty. Track temperature is 126 degrees by Firestone engineers.

Lap 180: #10 Wheldon leads #9 Dixon by .4121 of a second.

Lap 182: #11 Kanaan makes pass of #10 Wheldon for lead in Turn 1.

***

Lap 183 #10 Wheldon makes pass of #11 Kanaan for the lead in Turn 3, but wiggles and Kanaan maintains the position. Pit report: #16 Patrick to pits, four tires and fuel, seven seconds.

Lap 184: #10 Wheldon to pits, four tires and fuel, 8.5 seconds.

Lap 185: #11 Kanaan leads #26 Ma. Andretti by 6.6214 seconds.

Lap 190: #26 Andretti, running second, to pit lane. YELLOW. #14 Giaffone makes contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2. There is light damage to the right side of the car. Pit report: #26 Ma. Andretti to pits, four tires and fuel, 10 seconds.

***

AL UNSER JR.: "I hit something coming off of Turn 2. Ran over something. Really hit it on the right side hard. Went into (Turn) 3, and she just swapped ends on me. I think I punctured a tire. I don't know."

JEFF SIMMONS: "I don't really know. The officials out there said it looked like there were parts coming off the car. I don't know if that's the case or not. I just went down there, and the car wouldn't turn. We weren't going that quick. It's just a real shame. I was doing just about everything I could with the car. I was just trying to survive."

***

Lap 193: Leader #11 Kanaan, #27 Franchitti to pit road for fuel only. Kanaan, five seconds, Franchitti beats Kanaan off pit road. #1 Mi. Andretti did not stop and assumes the race lead. #26 Ma. Andretti is second.

Lap 196: GREEN. #1 Mi. Andretti leads field into Turn 1.

Lap 197: #26 Ma. Andretti passes #1 Mi. Andretti for lead on the outside of Turn 1. #6 Hornish passes #1 Andretti for second going into Turn 3.

Lap 198: #26 Andretti leads #6 Hornish by .5644 of a second. #26 Ma. Andretti blocks #6 Hornish going into Turn 3.

Lap 199: WHITE: #26 Ma. Andretti leads #6 Hornish by .9454 of a second.

Lap 200: #6 Hornish gets a run off of Turn 4, dives under #26 Ma. Andretti edging hinmby a car length. CHECKERED. #6 Sam Hornish Jr. wins the 90th Indianapolis 500 by .0635 of a second over #26 Ma. Andretti.

***

UNOFFICIAL INDYCAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS:

Pos. Driver Points
1. Helio Castroneves 156
2. Sam Hornish Jr. 144
3. Dan Wheldon 139
4. Scott Dixon 120
5. Tony Kanaan 119
6. Kosuke Matsuura 95
7. Dario Franchitti 89
(tie) Bryan Herta 89
9. Marco Andretti 88
10. Vitor Meira 84

***

Medical update from Dr. Henry Bock, IRL and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Senior Director of Medical Services: Felipe Giaffone has been checked and released from the Clarian Medical Center. He is cleared to drive.

***

Medical update from Dr. Henry Bock, IRL and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Senior Director of Medical Services: Rahal Letterman crew member Dan Bruce, the fueler for #17 Jeff Simmons, has been transported to Methodist Hospital for evaluation of a shoulder injury. A further update will be given when available.

***

90th INDIANAPOLIS 500 QUICK QUOTES:

MARIO ANDRETTI (Father, Michael Andretti; grandfather, Marco Andretti): "I'm just so proud. I'm so proud. I think this race lasted three days. It was so awesome to watch these guys. I'm so proud of them." (About the Andretti family): "We just love to drive. We love race cars. We just love to do it. We were born to do it, I think."

MARCO ANDRETTI: "I almost won this thing. I don't want to wait until next year. I wish it was today. I think I could have been really bad at blocking, but that might have cost us both." I knew I had a shot at it, I really did. I don't like to go into a race thinking I don't have a shot at it. That's what I wanted, on the last lap. I don't know where Penske came from, but I guess they were saving it." (About Turn 4): "I thought it if I defended my line that I might have had it. I don't know where they came from. It's a bummer. I've got to take advantage of every shot I get out here. I really do, because second is nothing."

SAM HORNISH JR.: (About drinking milk): "I love it. Nothing better right now. It's been a long month, and not everything went our way as we saw today, but we stuck together as a team. We had a good plan, and we were fast when we needed. I thank God for giving me a lot of talent, not so much the fact for what I can do driving, but the fact that I didn't want to give up. And then He also put me with such a great team and gave me great parents and a great wife to support me very much." (About exiting Turn 4. When did you know you had it?): "I didn't. I thought that it was over when I didn't get him going down into 3 there. But we dug down, put her back in there and took off. And for his first time out there to finish second, he had a heck of a ride. So no matter what happened, he should be very proud of that." (How does it feel?): "It's a great feeling. I wouldn't trade it for anything else. I've had a lot of friends and family pass away over the last couple of years, and they rooted us on today, so I'm real happy with that. I want to thank Marlboro Team Penske. They did a heck of a job. It may not always go the way you want it to, but it makes it a lot sweeter this way."

MICHAEL ANDRETTI: "I thought maybe, you know, but I just didn't have enough laps under the caution. If we had two more, I think we may have had enough to get it done. Man, Marco had a run on me, and I tried not to mess him up because I knew he was quicker than me. I just wish I could have held off Hornish one more lap, and he (Marco) probably would have won. I thought he won, anyways. I enjoyed a hell of a race. All day long we were together, and I was so impressed with him." (About racing Marco late in the race): "I had to be very careful. I knew I didn't have enough speed, so I didn't want to mess him up. But I wanted to protect my line, just in case. But he had a run on me, so as soon as he went to the outside, I went to the inside and gave him the line. That's the way it goes. We just came up a little short. I had a lot of fun, I really did. The car wasn't quite what we wanted it to be, but it wasn't bad. Our strategy was almost perfect, but not quite." (Is this your last Indianapolis 500 start?): "I'll evaluate it. I want to wait and see. Getting this close and not getting it, you know, it's like, grrr. I don't know. We'll think about it in a few months and let you know."

INDYCAR SERIES POST-RACE NOTES:

90th INDIANAPOLIS 500 POST-RACE NOTES:

•Sam Hornish Jr., a native of Defiance, Ohio, is the 65th driver to win the Indianapolis 500. He is the fifth native of Ohio to win the Indianapolis 500 and the first since Bobby Rahal of Medina, Ohio, won in 1986.

•Hornish is 26 years old, 10 months and 26 days. He is the second consecutive 26-year-old to win the "500." Other drivers who were 26 when they won the Indianapolis 500 are George Souders (1927), A.J. Foyt (1961), Helio Castroneves (2001) and Dan Wheldon (2005).

•The margin of victory was .0635 of a second, the second-closest finish in Indianapolis 500. The closest was the .043 of a second in 1992 when Al Unser Jr. edged Scott Goodyear.

•This is the fifth victory for car No. 6 in Indianapolis 500 history. The last time the number won was with Gil de Ferran in 2003.

•Hornish is the 18th driver to win the Indianapolis 500 from pole position. The last time was in 2004 when Buddy Rice won from the pole.

•This is Marlboro Team Penske's 14th Indianapolis 500 victory, the most of any entrant.

•Marco Andretti became the third-youngest driver to start the Indianapolis 500 at 19 years, two months and 15 days. He is the youngest since A.J. Foyt IV, who turned 19 when he made his first start in 2003.

•The maximum air temperature during today's race was 89 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, tying the fourth-hottest Indianapolis 500 on record. The hottest was in 1937, when the temperature reached 92. In 1919 and 1953, the high was 91. In 1977 and 1978, the high was 90. The high also was 89 in 1929.

•When #6 Sam Hornish Jr., passed #26 Marco Andretti on the final lap, it marked the first time in the history of the Indianapolis 500 that the winner took the lead on the final lap. Three times a driver lost the race on Lap 199. In 1912, Ralph DePalma dropped out with engine trouble on Lap 199 and lost to Joe Dawson. In 1989, Al Unser Jr. crashed on Lap 199 after colliding with eventual race winner Emerson Fittipaldi. In 1999, Robby Gordon had to pit on Lap 199 for gas and lost the lead to race winner, Kenny Brack.

•This was the best finish by a member of the Andretti family in their rookie year at Indianapolis, as Marco Andretti finished second. Mario Andretti finished third in 1965, Michael Andretti fifth in 1984, Jeff Andretti 15th in 1991 and John Andretti 21st in 1988.

•Race winner Sam Hornish Jr., led 19 laps. This is the fewest laps led by a race winner since 1995, when Jacques Villeneuve led 15 laps.

•The top lap leader of the 2006 Indianapolis 500 was fourth-place finisher #10 Dan Wheldon with 148 laps led. Last year, Wheldon led 30 laps on his way to victory.

•During the last eight laps of the 2006 Indianapolis 500, there were four different lap leaders: #11 Tony Kanaan (Laps 183-193), #1 Michael Andretti (194-197), #26 Marco Andretti (198-199) and #6 Sam Hornish Jr. (200). Also, there were three lead changes among the four drivers in the last seven laps of the race. This is the greatest number of different drivers and most number of lead changes in the last 10 laps of an Indianapolis 500-Mile Race that went the full distance.

•This is the sixth time that car owner, Roger Penske, had a car win from the pole position (1979, 1981, 1988, 1991, 1994 and 2006).

•When #26 Marco Andretti passed his father, #1 Michael Andretti, for the lead on Lap 198, it marked the first time that a father-son combination had traded the lead since 1992, when Mario Andretti passed his son, Michael, on Lap 7 and Michael re-passed his father subsequently on Lap 8.

•This is the seventh Indianapolis 500 start for Sam Hornish Jr., and it was the first time he has completed all 200 laps.

***

BRIAN BARNHART (President and chief operating officer, Indy Racing League): (About the month): "Well, obviously, we were challenged this month by some weather. Today had completely different conditions than the rest of the month. I think all of the teams did a great job responding to track conditions that they had no experience with. The Honda engines were great with putting 34 cars on track, and they were flawless all month long. The Firestone tires in the cold conditions and the heat of the day today were flawless, as well. We have two outstanding partners in Honda and Firestone, the teams did a great job today, and we had a hell of a finish."

90th INDIANAPOLIS 500 POST-RACE NOTES: (cont.)

•Marco Andretti became the 55th driver to lead the Indianapolis 500 in his first start.

•Three former winners crashed out of the 2006 Indianapolis 500, Helio Castroneves, Buddy Rice and Al Unser Jr. This is the most former winners to be eliminated due to accidents since 1992, when five former winners (Arie Luyendyk, Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, Rick Mears and Tom Sneva) were eliminated in accidents.

•Michael Andretti led four laps of the 2006 event. This raised his career lap leader total to 430 laps, which moved him past Rick Mears (429 laps) for 10th place on the all-time lap leader list. Michael Andretti's 430 laps led represent the most laps led by a driver who has never won the Indianapolis 500.

•Today's race was the eighth Indy 500 that Michael Andretti has led, tying him with Arie Luyendyk, Tom Sneva, and Al Unser Jr. for seventh on the all-time list for most races led. A.J. Foyt has the record with laps led in 13 races.

***

The next IndyCar Series event is the Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix presented by Tissot at 3:30 p.m. on June 4 at Watkins Glen International. The race will be carried live by ABC Sports and the IMS Radio Network. A Spanish-language telecast of the race will be carried by ESPN Deportes. The IMS Radio Network broadcast also is carried on XM Satellite Radio channel 145 "IndyCar Racing" and www.indycar.com.

*** END DAY 16 NOTES ***


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