DAILY TRACKSIDE REPORT MAY 28 Indianapolismotorspeedway.Com DAY 1 – Sunday, May 7, 2006 Page 1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FOLD OVER - do not print dotted line 2006 INDIANAPOLIS 500 ® RACE DAY DAILY TRACKSIDE REPORT MAY 28 indianapolismotorspeedway.com DAY 1 – Sunday, May 7, 2006 Page 1 Welcome to the 90th 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, Tom Savage, senior director of media 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 40th 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.indycar.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 sites. TODAY AT THE TRACK (all times local): 9 a.m. Public Gates Open 11:30 a.m. Opening Ceremonies Noon-5 p.m. Rookie Orientation Program/Driver Refresher Program 6 p.m. Track closes *** On this date in 1990, Rick Mears led Day 3 of practice for the second consecutive year. Mears recorded a lap of 224.389 mph in his Team Penske machine. *** In celebration of the 90th Running of the Indianapolis 500, various personalities associated with the “Greatest Spectacle of Racing” will give their favorite 500 memories. Here’s today’s memory. TOM ANDERSON (co-owner and managing director, Fernandez Racing): "I was there with Team McLaren. We brought three cars. We had two cars and a backup car. The drivers were going to be Chris Amon and Denny Hulme. The first day the track opened, which back then was May 1, we brought all three cars out for the morning warm up and Bruce McLaren drove the third car. All three cars went out on the racetrack together and there were several experienced Indy-people behind them. They all said, 'Oh my God, they brought three cars and they all run on the first day.'" *** Did you know?: If both Michael and Marco Andretti make the field for the 90th Indianapolis 500, it will mark only the fourth time in Indianapolis 500 history that a father/son combination has competed against each other. (Mario and Michael Andretti, Mario and Jeff Andretti and Al Unser Sr. and Al Unser, Jr.) (More) DAY 1 – Sunday, May 7, 2006 Page 2 ENTRY UPDATES: • Thiago Medeiros is now driver of the #18 PDM Racing Panoz/Honda/Firestone. Medeiros is eligible for JPMorgan Chase Rookie of the Year. • Jaques Lazier is now driver of the #21 Playa Del Racing Panoz/Honda/Firestone. • Car name for #31 is now A1 Team USA Geico Dreyer & Reinbold Dallara/Honda/Firestone. • #36 C & S Motorsports has withdrawn its entry. • Townsend Bell is driver of #90 Rock & Republic Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone. Bell is eligible for JPMorgan Chase Rookie of the Year. • Playa Del Racing has added a second entry. Jon Herb is driver of the #12 Playa Del Racing Panoz/Honda/Firestone. • Team Leader Motorsports has entered the Indianapolis 500. Stephan Gregoire is the driver of the #97 Team Leader Special. *** Ten drivers will participate in Rookie Orientation or Refresher Programs this month. #26 Marco Andretti (Andretti Green Racing), #91 P.J. Chesson (Carmelo Hemelgarn Racing) and #18 Thiago Medeiros (PDM Racing) must complete Rookie Orientation. The rookie drivers must complete four phases of ROP in order to be eligible for the Indianapolis 500. At least three of the phases must be completed during ROP. The fourth phase may be completed on the first day of practice. #1 Michael Andretti (Andretti Green Racing), #12 Jon Herb (Playa Del Racing), #31 Al Unser Jr., #41 Larry Foyt, #61 Arie Luyendyk Jr., #90 Townsend Bell and #97 Stephan Gregoire must complete refresher test, which consist of the final two phases of ROP. Luyendyk and Bell are considered rookies for the Indianapolis 500. The four phases of ROP are: 195-200 mph 200-205 mph 205-210 mph 210+ mph ROP PRACTICE REPORT: 12:02 p.m. – Three generations of Andrettis (Mario, Michael and Marco) on track for ceremonial laps. 12:10 p.m. – GREEN. #26 Marco Andretti is first car on track. 12:18 p.m. – #26 Andretti has passed Phase #1 and moved to Phase #2. 12:44 p.m. – #26 Andretti has passed Phases #2 and 3 and is cleared to run Phase #4. 1 p.m. – #26 Andretti has passed all four phases. 1:22 p.m. – YELLOW. Debris in Turn 3. 1:27 p.m. – GREEN. 1:33 p.m. – #91 Chesson has passed Phases #1 and #2. 2:01 p.m. – #91 Chesson has passed Phase #3. (More) DAY 1 – Sunday, May 7, 2006 Page 3 Marco Andretti, driver of the #26 NYSE Group Dallara/Honda/Firestone, took the honor of being the first driver on track for Opening Day at the 90th 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 shared by Eliseo Salazar, who finished fourth in 1995 and Danica Patrick, who finished fourth in 2005. FIRST ON TRACK, 1980-2006 Year Driver Started Finished 2006 Marco Andretti N/A N/A 2005 Danica Patrick 4th 4th 2004 Sarah Fisher 19th 24th 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 *** 2:21 p.m. – #91 Chesson has completed the fourth phase of ROP. 2:31 p.m. – YELLOW. Spray reported from #90 Bell. Car comes to a stop at entrance to pit lane. (More) DAY 1 – Sunday, May 7, 2006 Page 4 Scott Sharp may be the biggest beneficiary of Barbaro’s win in the 132nd Kentucky Derby on May 6. In two of the last three years, the winners of the Indianapolis 500 and Kentucky Derby have shared the same number. Funny Cide and Gil de Ferran shared the No. 6 in 2003, and Smarty Jones and Buddy Rice shared 15 in 2005. Barbaro wore No. 8, the same number as Sharp’s Dallara/Honda/Firestone. Overall, the Derby and Indianapolis 500 winners have shared the same number eight times: Year Derby winner Indianapolis 500 winner Number 1915 Regret Ralph De Palma 2 1940 Gallahadion Wilbur Shaw 1 1970 Dust Commander Al Unser 2 1976 Bold Forbes Johnny Rutherford 2 1978 Affirmed Al Unser 2 1997 Silver Charm Arie Luyendyk 5 2003 Funny Cide Gil de Ferran 6 2004 Smarty Jones Buddy Rice 15 *** A total 69 IndyCar Series and Indy Pro Series drivers have passed physical examinations at the Clarian Medical Center. *** PDM Racing announced that 2004 Indy Pro Series™ champion Thiago Medeiros will drive the No. 18 PDM Racing Honda-powered Panoz at the Indianapolis 500. Medeiros, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, currently drives for PDM in the USAC Silver Crown Series. The PDM effort is being supported by STP and Royal Spa, with more sponsorship announcements coming soon. PAUL DIATLOVICH (President, PDM Racing): “We have been building a great relationship with Thiago over the past several months through our Silver Crown program, and we couldn't be happier to have him drive for PDM this month at Indy. We have been working on Thiago's program for some time without his knowledge of it, which was very difficult to do considering the amount of time that he likes to spend in the shop. Needless to say, he was pleasantly surprised." THIAGO MEDEIROS (No. 18 PDM Racing Panoz/Honda/Firestone): “This is unbelievable. I knew that the guys were working on something for the '500,' but never thought it was for me. I am very thankful to everyone involved in putting this together." (About racing at Indianapolis): "I plan to work my way up to speed, and not rush into getting fast right away. Even though we won't be out until the second week of practice, that will still be enough time to get comfortable." *** 2:40 p.m. – GREEN. (More) DAY 1 – Sunday, May 7, 2006 Page 5 Veteran Indianapolis 500 entrants Kent Baker and Greg Beck have formed Team Leader Motorsports in collaboration with Bob Hillis, Mike Curb, Cary Agajanian and Turner Woodard and have officially entered the 2006 Indianapolis 500- Mile Race.