The 88Th ANNUAL INDIANAPOLIS 500-MILE RACE
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indianapolismotorspeedway.com DAILY TRACKSIDE REPORT The 88th ANNUAL INDIANAPOLIS 500-MILE RACE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE MEDIA: Welcome to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 88th running of the 500-Mile Race and the 59th anniversary of the Hulman family's restoration of its historic tradition. Complete daily reports, column notes, track record information and other background materials are included here to assist you in covering the "500.” If we may be of further assistance, please ask any of our media staff members for help. I M S – MEDIA PERSONNEL Mari Hulman George, Chairman of the Board Anton Hulman George, President and Chief Executive Officer Fred Nation, Executive Vice President, Communications John Griffin, Indy Racing League Vice President of Public Relations Ron McQueeney, Director of Photography Gloria Novotney, Director of Credentials Ron Green, Director of Public Relations Tom Savage, Indy Racing League Director of Public Relations Dave Lewandowski, Indy Racing League Director of Editorial Projects Donald Davidson, Historian Ashleigh Higgins, Indy Racing League Senior Manager of Media Relations Paul Kelly, Communications Manager Adrian Payne, Manager of Internet Development Beth Agan, Indy Racing League Manager of Public Relations Mike Nave, Senior Web Designer Zach Crowe, Web Applications Developer Vic Emond, Web Applications Developer Josh Laycock, Media Coordinator Eric Powell, Media Coordinator Tim Harms, Menards Infiniti Pro Series Coordinator of Media Services Arni Sribhen, Indy Racing League Coordinator of News Services Tina Mendenhall, Public Relations Coordinator Dick Mittman, Senior Editor Tim Sullivan, Media Credentials Supervisor Kate Boomer, Administrative Assistant Audra Courtney, Indy Racing League Administrative Assistant Bill York, Media Center Manager Bob Clidinst, Archivist & Technical Coordinator Bob Watson, Archivist Media Center Staff: Roger Deppe, Bob Wilson, Brian Alexander, Dr. Steve Farrar, Kathy Geiger, Gail Green, Gloria Henry, Deb Hughes, Susan Kessler, Melinda Kesterson, Dan Komakech, Colleen Major, Suzy Miller, Scott Sullivan, George Totton, Kaye Totton, Margaret Urbanic, Wes Woodward, Rick York Trackside Report Staff: Troy Barnes, Ruth Ann Cadou-Hofmann, Tony Hofmann, Rob Laycock, Joe LeBlanc, Suzanne Robinson, Pat Sullivan, Jan Thomas Copiers and Fax machines provided by IKON DAY 1 – SUNDAY, May 9, 2004 PAGE 1 Welcome to the 88th running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Fred Nation, executive vice president of communications for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Ron Green, director of public relations for the Speedway, John Griffin, vice president of public relations for the Indy Racing League, and Bill York, Media Center manager, and their staffs are here to assist you. Please direct your questions and requests to any Indianapolis Motor Speedway or Indy Racing League staff person in the Media Center. *** This is the 38th edition of the Indianapolis 500 Daily Trackside Report, which was first distributed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1967. As stated on the first page of the 1967 DTR, “This press information has been compiled as an added source of your information in your coverage of the ‘500.’ It is our sincere wish that it will be of assistance in your assignment.” Notes and items of interest will appear on these pages during the month and will also be available on the Speedway’s official site on the World Wide Web, www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com and the official Indy Racing League Web site, www.indyracing.com. Performance histories will be issued at the end of each day in the Media Center and on the Indianapolis 500 and Indy Racing League Web site. TODAY AT THE TRACK (all times local): 9 a.m. Public Gates Open 11 a.m. – noon Driver Autograph Session at Pagoda Plaza 12:40 p.m. Opening Ceremonies 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. IndyCar Series practice 6 p.m. Track closes *** PRACTICE REPORT: Two-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. will not participate in practice today. Hornish is suffering from the symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. *** At 12:50 p.m., the ambient temperature was 82 degrees with winds from the southwest at 16 mph, and a relative humidity of 56 percent. The track temperature was 130 degrees, according to Firestone engineers. 1:08 p.m. – GREEN. Reba Fisher, mother of IndyCar® Series driver Sarah Fisher, waved the green flag to start the first day of practice for the 88th Indianapolis 500. #39 Fisher was first on track, followed by #2 Taylor. At 2 p.m., the ambient temperature was 83 degrees with winds from the southwest at 16 mph, gusting to 24 mph, and a relative humidity of 56 percent. The track temperature was 129 degrees, according to Firestone engineers. 2:18 p.m. – YELLOW. Debris in Turn 3. 2:23 p.m. – GREEN. 2:46 p.m. – YELLOW. Track inspection. 2:56 p.m. – GREEN. 3:04 p.m. – YELLOW. Track inspection. 3:06 p.m. – GREEN. (More) DAY 1 – May 9, 2004 PAGE 2 Sarah Fisher, driver of the No. 39 Bryant Heating & Cooling/Cure Autism Now Dallara/Toyota/Firestone, took the honor of being the first driver on track for official practice at the 88th Indianapolis 500, an honor that sometimes has been hard-fought over the years. The best start by the driver first on track over the last 25 years has been by Raul Boesel, who started second in 1994. The best finish is by Eliseo Salazar, who finished fourth in 1995. FIRST ON TRACK, 1979-2004 Year Driver Started Finished 2004 Sarah Fisher N/A N/A 2003 Felipe Giaffone 16th 33rd 2002 Billy Boat 23rd 18th 2001 Stephan Gregoire 29th 28th 2000 Stephan Gregoire 20th 7th 1999 Stephan Gregoire Did Not Qualify 1998 Mike Groff 32nd 15th 1997 Dr. Jack Miller 17th 20th 1996 Michele Alboreto 12th 30th 1995 Eliseo Salazar 24th 4th 1994 Raul Boesel 2nd 21st 1993 Jimmy Vasser 19th 13th 1992 Scott Brayton 7th 22nd 1991 Scott Brayton 19th 17th 1990 Tero Palmroth 16th 12th 1989 Arie Luyendyk 15th 21st 1988 Raul Boesel 7th 20th 1987 Ludwig Heimrath Jr. 10th 30th 1986 Chip Ganassi 26th 25th 1985 Dick Simon 26th 14th 1984 Dick Simon 20th 23rd 1983 Bill Tempero Did Not Qualify 1982 Gary Bettenhausen 30th 12th 1981 Larry “Boom Boom” Cannon Did Not Qualify 1980 Bill Tempero Did Not Qualify 1979 Larry “Boom Boom” Cannon Did Not Qualify *** PRACTICE REPORT (Cont): 3:36 p.m. – YELLOW. Debris in Turn 3. 3:39 p.m. – GREEN. 4:22 p.m. – YELLOW. Debris in Turn 3. 4:40 p.m. – GREEN. At 4:50 p.m., the ambient temperature was 84 degrees with winds from the southwest at 13 mph, gusting to 22 mph, and a relative humidity of 94 percent. The track temperature was 117 degrees, according to Firestone engineers. (More) DAY 1 – May 9, 2004 PAGE 3 Reba Fisher, mother of IndyCar Series driver Sarah Fisher, waved the green flag to start the first day of practice for the 88th Indianapolis 500. Her daughter was the first car on the track. REBA FISHER: “Waving that green flag for Sarah meant the world to me, making this one of the greatest Mother's Day any Mom could ask for. The toughest part was holding back the tears in front of everyone. I didn't want to see pictures of me crying up there. I would get embarrassed. Racing is a lifestyle, not just Sarah's but the whole Fisher family. Sarah started in Karts, Sprints, Quarter Midgets, Sprints, then in the IndyCar Series. She isn't the only Female driver in our family. I use to race myself. I met (husband) Dave (Fisher) at the Commercial Point Grand Prix Karting race. We both ran against each other in the same race. Wouldn't you know I beat him, but unfortunately, I haven't beaten him since. I guess it sure made an impression. Back then I never would have thought I'd be giving my daughter the green flag, Opening Day at the world's greatest race. I love to see Sarah go fast. Some people ask if I get nervous seeing my daughter drive over 220-plus mph. I have all the confidence in the world with Sarah's driving abilities in an IndyCar (Series car). Sarah is out there with 33 of the world's greatest drivers. Her car is set up as perfect as our guys at Kelley racing can get it. I feel safer seeing her drive here than pulling up to some intersection. You never know what the other person will do next out on the street. It is great to be part of this great event.” *** PRACTICE REPORT (Cont): As of 5 p.m., 39 drivers had passed their physicals at the Clarian Emergency Medical Center. Twenty-four Menards Infiniti Pro Series drivers had passed their physicals. Forty-three cars had passed technical inspection. 5:18 p.m. – YELLOW: Debris on frontstretch. 5:20 p.m. – GREEN. 6 p.m. – CHECKERED. *** FASTEST SPEEDS OF DAY Pos. Car Name C/E/T Speed 1 1 Scott Dixon G/T/F 219.760 mph 2 3 Helio Castroneves D/T/F 219.752 mph 3 5 Adrian Fernandez D/H/F 218.342 mph 4 4 Tomas Scheckter D/C/F 218.308 mph 5 26 Dan Wheldon D/H/F 218.007 mph *** There were 33 cars on the track today, the most on a scheduled open day since 1999 when 38 cars turned laps. A total of 43 cars are now at the Speedway and 41 have passed technical inspection. There were 25 drivers on the track. Drivers completed 931 laps. (More) DAY 1 – May 9, 2004 PAGE 4 POST PRACTICE QUOTES: KOSUKE MATSUURA (No. 55 Panasonic ARTA Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone): “It was the first practice day at Indy and we made a very, very good start.