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| INDIANAPOLIS 500 2nd Day of Qualifications Sunday, May 10 UPDATES |
4:00 PM
Although there have been a slew of drivers qualify for the race, this has been a
rather slow day. Some of the drivers clearly were having trouble getting their
machines up to speed, but decided to make a qualification attempt anyway -
they've got three to use today. I expect to see quite a few of them go out in the
next two hours to try to improve their position after an afternoon of practice.
It was the most low key qualification celebration I've seen here for Scott Sharp -
no congratulations, no high-fives. After crashing yesterday, the Panther Team's
Patron-sponsored entry struggled to get up to speed today. And it's imperative
that he DO get up to speed as Scott is not available to qualify next weekend due
to an ALMS racing commitment. He HAS to make the field today, or else he
misses the race. He did not look happy at all after climbing from his car after his
qualification attempt and realized his average was only around 220 mph. I
expect we'll see him again by the end of the day.
Tomas Scheckter is buzzing around here with former Panther co-owner Doug
Boles, apparently getting close to a deal. I asked him about it, and he sounded
optimistic, although nothings sure at this point.
The Penske Team is not taking the day off, as usual, after yesterday's
Pole-winning effort. Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe and Will Power are all out
running lap after lap in the heat of the day (although it's not very hot today), so
that they have a baseline for any type of conditions that might arise on race day.
While other teams take the day off after qualifying, or run limited laps, Penske
does this every year, which is why they have won here so many times.
Apparently, my disbelief at the Newman-Haas-Lanigan decision to pull Graham
Rahal's solidly qualified car out of the field to requalify it had reasoning behind it
besides just wanting to qualify faster. Although they had a legal setup on the
car, they were "encouraged" by IRL tech to requalify as they did not want to see
Graham run that particular setup on race day. Thank goodness it worked out for
Graham, who bettered his speed and now sits on the inside of Row 2. He's had a
very impressive year so far, at all of 19 years old.
"Happy Hour" is 30 minutes away - not expecting the wild excitement of
yesterday's last hour of action, but hoping for some surprise runs.
1:30 PM
Vitor Miera's qualifying run was disallowed based on failing the post-qualifying
technical inspection.
Mike Conway has been admitted to Methodist Hospital with bruised lungs after a
morning practice crash. He is listed in good condition.
NOON
Welcome to the 2nd day of Qualifications for the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race!
It's a gorgeous day here today - perfect weather for Mother's Day (Happy
Mother's Day, Mom!). About 65 degrees, sunny, and - thankfully - NO wind (as
opposed to yesterdays 30 mph gusts). Not too good of a crowd yet, but I'm
assuming that families are spending time with each other and I expect more
folks to arrive later on this afternoon to see who will claim the coveted 12-22
spots in the field.
Two crashes during this morning's practice. Rookie Mike Conway lost it going
into turn 1, crashed and was transported to Methodist Hospital for observation.
Alex Tagliani, who was already struggling with speed here this week, crashed
also going through turn 1, but was cleared to drive.
Dan Wheldon sure bounced back after yesterday's crash, posting a speed of
224.164 during the AM practice. He does not appear to be going out to take a
qualification attempt early today - he's not in the tech line.
Sarah Fisher was the first to make a qualification attempt today, and I don't think
I've ever seen a driver so relaxed and jovial prior to getting in their car to
qualify. She was laughing and joking with her team (including husband and crew
chief Andy O'Gara) and the media, and even took a call right before she got in
the car. Just another day at work, I guess. Her attempt started out really good,
with a first lap above 222 mph, but she fell off drastically on her second lap - 217
mph, and finished the run, but ultimately would need to go out later to get her
Dollar General-sponsored machine in the field.
Although there have been a slew of drivers qualify for the race, this has been a
rather slow day. Some of the drivers clearly were having trouble getting their
machines up to speed, but decided to make a qualification attempt anyway -
they've got three to use today. I expect to see quite a few of them go out in the
next two hours to try to improve their position after an afternoon of practice.
It was the most low key qualification celebration I've seen here for Scott Sharp -
no congratulations, no high-fives. After crashing yesterday, the Panther Team's
Patron-sponsored entry struggled to get up to speed today. And it's imperative
that he DO get up to speed as Scott is not available to qualify next weekend due
to an ALMS racing commitment. He HAS to make the field today, or else he
misses the race. He did not look happy at all after climbing from his car after his
qualification attempt and realized his average was only around 220 mph. I
expect we'll see him again by the end of the day.
Tomas Scheckter is buzzing around here with former Panther co-owner Doug
Boles, apparently getting close to a deal. I asked him about it, and he sounded
optimistic, although nothings sure at this point.
The Penske Team is not taking the day off, as usual, after yesterday's
Pole-winning effort. Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe and Will Power are all out
running lap after lap in the heat of the day (although it's not very hot today), so
that they have a baseline for any type of conditions that might arise on race day.
While other teams take the day off after qualifying, or run limited laps, Penske
does this every year, which is why they have won here so many times.
Apparently, my disbelief at the Newman-Haas-Lanigan decision to pull Graham
Rahal's solidly qualified car out of the field to requalify it had reasoning behind it
besides just wanting to qualify faster. Although they had a legal setup on the
car, they were "encouraged" by IRL tech to requalify as they did not want to see
Graham run that particular setup on race day. Thank goodness it worked out for
Graham, who bettered his speed and now sits on the inside of Row 2. He's had a
very impressive year so far, at all of 19 years old.
"Happy Hour" is 30 minutes away - not expecting the wild excitement of
yesterday's last hour of action, but hoping for some surprise runs.
1:30 PM
Vitor Miera's qualifying run was disallowed based on failing the post-qualifying
technical inspection.
Mike Conway has been admitted to Methodist Hospital with bruised lungs after a
morning practice crash. He is listed in good condition.
NOON
Welcome to the 2nd day of Qualifications for the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race!
It's a gorgeous day here today - perfect weather for Mother's Day (Happy
Mother's Day, Mom!). About 65 degrees, sunny, and - thankfully - NO wind (as
opposed to yesterdays 30 mph gusts). Not too good of a crowd yet, but I'm
assuming that families are spending time with each other and I expect more
folks to arrive later on this afternoon to see who will claim the coveted 12-22
spots in the field.
Two crashes during this morning's practice. Rookie Mike Conway lost it going
into turn 1, crashed and was transported to Methodist Hospital for observation.
Alex Tagliani, who was already struggling with speed here this week, crashed
also going through turn 1, but was cleared to drive.
Dan Wheldon sure bounced back after yesterday's crash, posting a speed of
224.164 during the AM practice. He does not appear to be going out to take a
qualification attempt early today - he's not in the tech line.
Sarah Fisher was the first to make a qualification attempt today, and I don't think
I've ever seen a driver so relaxed and jovial prior to getting in their car to
qualify. She was laughing and joking with her team (including husband and crew
chief Andy O'Gara) and the media, and even took a call right before she got in
the car. Just another day at work, I guess. Her attempt started out really good,
with a first lap above 222 mph, but she fell off drastically on her second lap - 217
mph, and finished the run, but ultimately would need to go out later to get her
Dollar General-sponsored machine in the field.