| LIVE UPDATES Saturday, May 17 - 3rd DAY OF QUALIFYING |
NOTES: Updates are listed with most recent post at the top. If you have any specific questions that I can
answer regarding activities at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, please e-mail them to me HERE and I'll do
my best to post a response below.
Saturday, May 17 PHOTOS
UPDATES:
6:00 pm
Medical update: #88 Phil Giebler has been admitted to Methodist Hospital with pulmonary contusions (lungs). He
was awake and alert. His car is not repairable for anyone to attempt to qualify tomorrow.
The field is full, with Marty Roth taking the 33rd spot. When qualifications resume on Sunday, all spots but the
Pole Position are open to being bumped.
Dale Coyne Racing is putting together another car - they "say" for Milwaukee - but with all of the accidents today,
I'm sure it will come in handy if someone needs it.
1985 Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan was at the track today.
4:20 pm
Phil Giebler, last year's Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, out practicing for the first time this month, just crashed and
his car caught on fire, but was put out quickly. It was a huge hit, I believe, going through turn 1. They are still
working to get him out of the car, but he's moving around. There will be a delay in re-starting practice, even after
the extensive debris from the crash is cleaned up, because the SAFER Barrier has to be repaired (they are
welding it now). They took about 10 minutes to get Giebler out of the car, and he's on his way in the ambulance
to the medical center.
Hideki Mutoh has been cleared to drive.
4:15 pm
Track went green again for practice at about 4:10 pm after Mutoh's accident.
Entry updates: The car name for #18 has been changed to Z-Line Designs. The car name for #19 has been
changed to Sonny's Bar-B-Q. The car name for #67 has been changed to Sarah Fisher Racing. The chief
mechanic on car #34 is David Janquart.
Dale Coyne Racing crew member Chuck Buckman is recuperating at home following five nights in Methodist
Hospital. Buckman was injured May 9 in an incident on pit lane. Chuck said: "The only problem I'm having right
now is a case of vertigo when I sit or stand up. Besides that my right arm is bruised all over, I have a fracture in
my skull, my face is scraped, and I have to wear a neck brace for a month. Other than that, I feel fine and want to
get back to work. All I remember at this point was walking down pit lane to get my jacket, and I stopped off to talk
with someone from Marco Andretti's crew then everything after that is blank. I was just at the wrong place at the
wrong time. It was not Danica's (Patrick) fault, and I do not hold her to blame for what happened. In my 35 years
in auto racing, this is the first time anything this bad has happened to me. I'm just thankful that I'm still alive. I
would love for both Dale Coyne Racing cars to make the field and be there to see the race."
During Jeff Simmons' first qualification attempt, an A.J. Foyt Enterprises representative did not display the green
flag at the end of Simmons' warm-up lap. According to IndyCar Series Appendix E, Rule 6.5 (C), The Entrant
must display the green flag to start the qualifications attempt prior to the completion of the last warm-up lap.
During the start of afternoon practice, Phil Giebler, just getting on track for the first time this month after a late
arrival by his American Dream Motorsports team, was black flagged because he did not have a spotter.
4:00 pm
Hideki Mutoh just crashed in this afternoon's practice session. He just got out of his car and appears OK, but will
take a trip to the infield medical center.
32 of 33 spots were filled in the field earlier this afternoon during qualifications. The final row is made up of
Roger Yasukawa and Buddy Lazier, who sits on the Bump. Lazier, however, just got out on the track for a few
laps yesterday and I'm sure expects to be bumped after a qualifying attempt at just over 217 mph.
When no qualifiers present themselves in the tech line, the track opens for practice - usually done during the heat
of the afternoon (speeds go down in the heat). I fully expect that within the next hour, we'll have some more
qualifiers, and maybe even start some bumping today, which should make tomorrow - pending a clear weather
day - really interesting and fun!
11:15 am
Shortly after the track went green following Mario Dominguez's accident, Max Papis crashed pretty hard in turn 3.
The car made heavy contact with the left rear hitting the SAFER Barrier Both Max and Mario were checked at the
infield care center and released to drive, but in Max's case, his car was damaged heavily and that might cause
him to have to try to qualify tomorrow. Papis was 16th on the speed chart at the time of his crash, going 221.330
mph in this morning's session. The practice session was checkered after Papis' crash, with a noon start to
qualifying still on the schedule.
About 40 more photos from Friday's practice have been added to that's day's link - check them out!
10:55 am
Mario Dominguez just crashed during this morning's practice. He looked to be way too low going into turn one
and hit the SAFER Barrier. He got out of the car under his own power and is headed to the medical center to get
checked out. Right side car damage. At the time of the crash, Mario was 24th out of 26 drivers on the speed
chart, only going a little over 219 mph.
9:30 am
This promises to be a very exciting day here at IMS. With 22 slots to fill the field, and possible showers later (and
expected tomorrow, although not all day), non-qualified teams will be pressing for every tenth of a second in order
to try to get in the field today.
Many teams I spoke with yesterday said they are going to take whatever time they get the first time out, just to be
safe. The new qualifying format allows them to do that three times a day both today and tomorrow, so expect
plenty of checkered flags.
Many of the teams that didn't get into the top-11 last week are still struggling for speed, though. I know plenty of
the drivers not assigned to cars are happy about that, as they feel that they might be called upon to get the car in
the field at the last minute.
Besides the names previously mentioned (Jaques Lazier, Roberto Moreno, Jimmy Kite, PJ Jones, Alex Barron),
add to that list a recently-arrived Donnie Beechler, who has never officially retired from IndyCar racing, although
he's not been around for a few years. Donnie has limited his racing recently to the USAC Silver Crown show at
the Springfield Mile (he's from that area). I spoke with Donnie last night and asked if he had his helmet with him,
just in case. He's not actively looking for a ride here at IMS this weekend, but said that if the right opportunity
came up, his firesuit, helmet and other race stuff would be available.
Donnie, along with quite a few other people, expect AJ Foyt to spice things up on Bump Day by pulling out a third
car, just for the fun of it (assuming his other two drivers, Darren Manning and Jeff Simmons, have safely made it
into the field). AJ loves the drama of Bump Day - usually because he's a part of it! Although Donnie has had a
history with AJ in the past - and not always a pleasant one - he says that he's now good friends with AJ and would
not hesitate to drive for him again.
Weather is really nice right now. It's about 63 degrees, partly sunny/cloudy, but just like yesterday there's a
pretty good wind again, which caused three crashes (AJ Viso, Will Power, Ryan Briscoe) and a brush with the wall
that did quite a bit of car damage (Graham Rahal). All cars will be repaired for this morning's hour-long practice -
10:15-11:15 am - which precedes the start of the third day of qualifications at noon.
There have been a total of 9071 laps completed so far this month.
answer regarding activities at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, please e-mail them to me HERE and I'll do
my best to post a response below.
Saturday, May 17 PHOTOS
UPDATES:
6:00 pm
Medical update: #88 Phil Giebler has been admitted to Methodist Hospital with pulmonary contusions (lungs). He
was awake and alert. His car is not repairable for anyone to attempt to qualify tomorrow.
The field is full, with Marty Roth taking the 33rd spot. When qualifications resume on Sunday, all spots but the
Pole Position are open to being bumped.
Dale Coyne Racing is putting together another car - they "say" for Milwaukee - but with all of the accidents today,
I'm sure it will come in handy if someone needs it.
1985 Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan was at the track today.
4:20 pm
Phil Giebler, last year's Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, out practicing for the first time this month, just crashed and
his car caught on fire, but was put out quickly. It was a huge hit, I believe, going through turn 1. They are still
working to get him out of the car, but he's moving around. There will be a delay in re-starting practice, even after
the extensive debris from the crash is cleaned up, because the SAFER Barrier has to be repaired (they are
welding it now). They took about 10 minutes to get Giebler out of the car, and he's on his way in the ambulance
to the medical center.
Hideki Mutoh has been cleared to drive.
4:15 pm
Track went green again for practice at about 4:10 pm after Mutoh's accident.
Entry updates: The car name for #18 has been changed to Z-Line Designs. The car name for #19 has been
changed to Sonny's Bar-B-Q. The car name for #67 has been changed to Sarah Fisher Racing. The chief
mechanic on car #34 is David Janquart.
Dale Coyne Racing crew member Chuck Buckman is recuperating at home following five nights in Methodist
Hospital. Buckman was injured May 9 in an incident on pit lane. Chuck said: "The only problem I'm having right
now is a case of vertigo when I sit or stand up. Besides that my right arm is bruised all over, I have a fracture in
my skull, my face is scraped, and I have to wear a neck brace for a month. Other than that, I feel fine and want to
get back to work. All I remember at this point was walking down pit lane to get my jacket, and I stopped off to talk
with someone from Marco Andretti's crew then everything after that is blank. I was just at the wrong place at the
wrong time. It was not Danica's (Patrick) fault, and I do not hold her to blame for what happened. In my 35 years
in auto racing, this is the first time anything this bad has happened to me. I'm just thankful that I'm still alive. I
would love for both Dale Coyne Racing cars to make the field and be there to see the race."
During Jeff Simmons' first qualification attempt, an A.J. Foyt Enterprises representative did not display the green
flag at the end of Simmons' warm-up lap. According to IndyCar Series Appendix E, Rule 6.5 (C), The Entrant
must display the green flag to start the qualifications attempt prior to the completion of the last warm-up lap.
During the start of afternoon practice, Phil Giebler, just getting on track for the first time this month after a late
arrival by his American Dream Motorsports team, was black flagged because he did not have a spotter.
4:00 pm
Hideki Mutoh just crashed in this afternoon's practice session. He just got out of his car and appears OK, but will
take a trip to the infield medical center.
32 of 33 spots were filled in the field earlier this afternoon during qualifications. The final row is made up of
Roger Yasukawa and Buddy Lazier, who sits on the Bump. Lazier, however, just got out on the track for a few
laps yesterday and I'm sure expects to be bumped after a qualifying attempt at just over 217 mph.
When no qualifiers present themselves in the tech line, the track opens for practice - usually done during the heat
of the afternoon (speeds go down in the heat). I fully expect that within the next hour, we'll have some more
qualifiers, and maybe even start some bumping today, which should make tomorrow - pending a clear weather
day - really interesting and fun!
11:15 am
Shortly after the track went green following Mario Dominguez's accident, Max Papis crashed pretty hard in turn 3.
The car made heavy contact with the left rear hitting the SAFER Barrier Both Max and Mario were checked at the
infield care center and released to drive, but in Max's case, his car was damaged heavily and that might cause
him to have to try to qualify tomorrow. Papis was 16th on the speed chart at the time of his crash, going 221.330
mph in this morning's session. The practice session was checkered after Papis' crash, with a noon start to
qualifying still on the schedule.
About 40 more photos from Friday's practice have been added to that's day's link - check them out!
10:55 am
Mario Dominguez just crashed during this morning's practice. He looked to be way too low going into turn one
and hit the SAFER Barrier. He got out of the car under his own power and is headed to the medical center to get
checked out. Right side car damage. At the time of the crash, Mario was 24th out of 26 drivers on the speed
chart, only going a little over 219 mph.
9:30 am
This promises to be a very exciting day here at IMS. With 22 slots to fill the field, and possible showers later (and
expected tomorrow, although not all day), non-qualified teams will be pressing for every tenth of a second in order
to try to get in the field today.
Many teams I spoke with yesterday said they are going to take whatever time they get the first time out, just to be
safe. The new qualifying format allows them to do that three times a day both today and tomorrow, so expect
plenty of checkered flags.
Many of the teams that didn't get into the top-11 last week are still struggling for speed, though. I know plenty of
the drivers not assigned to cars are happy about that, as they feel that they might be called upon to get the car in
the field at the last minute.
Besides the names previously mentioned (Jaques Lazier, Roberto Moreno, Jimmy Kite, PJ Jones, Alex Barron),
add to that list a recently-arrived Donnie Beechler, who has never officially retired from IndyCar racing, although
he's not been around for a few years. Donnie has limited his racing recently to the USAC Silver Crown show at
the Springfield Mile (he's from that area). I spoke with Donnie last night and asked if he had his helmet with him,
just in case. He's not actively looking for a ride here at IMS this weekend, but said that if the right opportunity
came up, his firesuit, helmet and other race stuff would be available.
Donnie, along with quite a few other people, expect AJ Foyt to spice things up on Bump Day by pulling out a third
car, just for the fun of it (assuming his other two drivers, Darren Manning and Jeff Simmons, have safely made it
into the field). AJ loves the drama of Bump Day - usually because he's a part of it! Although Donnie has had a
history with AJ in the past - and not always a pleasant one - he says that he's now good friends with AJ and would
not hesitate to drive for him again.
Weather is really nice right now. It's about 63 degrees, partly sunny/cloudy, but just like yesterday there's a
pretty good wind again, which caused three crashes (AJ Viso, Will Power, Ryan Briscoe) and a brush with the wall
that did quite a bit of car damage (Graham Rahal). All cars will be repaired for this morning's hour-long practice -
10:15-11:15 am - which precedes the start of the third day of qualifications at noon.
There have been a total of 9071 laps completed so far this month.
