| LIVE UPDATES Saturday, May 24 - DRIVER'S MEETING / PARADE |
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 24 PHOTOS - DRIVER'S MEETING / RESCHEDULED FREEDOM 100
Final Results for "Firestone Freedom 100"
INDIANAPOLIS - Results Saturday of the Firestone Freedom 100 Firestone Indy Lights event May 24 at the
2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, laps
completed, reason out (if any) and money earned:
1. (1) Dillon Battistini, 40, Running $45,000
2. (6) Richard Antinucci, 40, Running $30,000
3. (3) Wade Cunningham, 40, Running $24,000
4. (13) Robbie Pecorari, 40, Running $19,000
5. (4) Ana Beatriz, 40, Running $18,000
6. (12) Bobby Wilson, 40, Running $17,000
7. (9) Logan Gomez, 40, Running $16,000
8. (10) Jeff Simmons, 40, Running $15,000
9. (11) Andrew Prendeville, 40, Running $14,000
10. (5) Raphael Matos, 40, Running $13,000
11. (19) Al Unser III, 40, Running $12,500
12. (16) Sean Guthrie, 40, Running $12,000
13. (26) Mike Potekhen, 40, Running $13,500
14. (18) Arie Luyendyk Jr., 40, Running $11,000
15. (14) Marc Williams, 40, Running $10,500
16. (7) Brent Sherman, 40, Running $9,500
17. (2) James Davison, 40, Running $8,500
18. (24) Chris Festa, 40, Running $10,000
19. (15) Pablo Donoso, 40, Running $6,500
20. (25) Jonny Reid, 40, Running $7,000
21. (22) Micky Gilbert, 40, Running $4,500
22. (20) Tom Wieringa, 40, Running $4,000
23. (17) Jake Slotten, 39, Running $4,500
24. (21) J.R. Hildebrand, 39, Running $3,000
25. (27) Mark Olson, 38, Running $3,750
26. (8) Cyndie Allemann, 22, Mechanical $2,500
27. (23) Jon Brownson, 1, Contact $2,250
Race Statistics
Winner's average speed: 150.820 mph
Time of race: 39:46.9495
Margin of victory: 0.2458 of a second
Cautions: 3 caution flags for 9 laps
Lead changes: 4 among 3 drivers
Lap leaders: Battistini 1-3, Davison 4, Battistini 5-6, Cunningham
7, Battistini 8-40.
Point standings: Antinucci 179, Battistini 176, Hildebrand 148,
Matos 127, Beatriz 121, Luyendyk Jr. 119, Guthrie 110, Sherman 103,
Unser III 102, Gomez 101.
UPDATES:
3:00 pm
Watching Helio Castroneves give fellow "Dancing With The Stars" partner and champion a ride around the
Speedway in a Corvette Pace Car.
Renowned racing broadcaster and historian Bob Jenkins received the 2008 Bob Russo Founders Award
presented by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association during the organization's annual
breakfast this morning at IMS.
IZOD has signed on as a clothing sponsor of Guthrie Racing driver Logan Gomez.
ESPN is providing worldwide distribution of the Indianapolis 500, with coverage exceeding 200 countries and
territories including 375 million households.
Celebrities expected to attend tomorrows Indy 500 include: Kristi Yamaguchi (will wave green flag); Julianna
Hough (will sing National Anthem); Carlos Diaz ("Extra" correspondent); Paul Adelstein (actor); Marcus Allen
(former NFL superstar); Richard Branson (Virgin Group); Ruth Buzzi (actress, comedian); Kim Coates (actor),
Brad Cooper (actor); David Cubitt (actor); Baron Davis (NBA star); Anthony Edwards (actor); Jenna Elfman
(actress); William Fichtner (actor); Nicky Hayden (2006 MotoGP World Champion); Patricia Heaton (actress);
Florence Henderson (actress and entertainer); Drew Lachey (singer and entertainer); Max Martini (actor);
Cameron Mathison (actor); Marlee Matlin (actress); Ted McGinley (actor); Candice Michelle (WWE diva); Bode
Miller (skiing world champion); Frankie Muniz (actor); Luke Perry (actor); Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr. (Commander,
North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command); Slash (musician); Alison
Sweeney (actress); Alex Tai (Virgin Galactic); Whitney Thompson (model); David Uhl (artist); Major Gen. R.
Martin Umbarger (Adjutant General of Indiana, Indiana National Guard); Ian Ziering (actor)
1:30 pm
Boy, what a race the Freedom 100 was! As usual, The Firestone Indy Lights Series put on a show for the
thousands upon thousands in attendance. A perfect weather day brought out WAY more people than expected
(because of the competing Parade downtown), and they got their money's worth...even if the day was free! Very
enthusiastic crowd that was highly intelligent about what was going on. Besides a lap-one incident involving Jon
Brownson (front wing), the race was fairly clean - only later in the race did a couple of cars get together, but they
didn't crash. Side-by-side-by-side racing (4-wide at one point) was the norm. Although it wasn't the best
circumstance for the Lights Series to have to run today - they missed out on live ESPN2 television coverage
yesterday - it made for an exciting day here at IMS, combined with the early AM autograph session, and the
Public Driver's Meeting.
11:30 pm
Public Driver's Meeting is now over and the drivers are all headed downtown in vans to be in the 500 Festival
Parade. The Driver's Meeting is always entertaining, as the drivers sit in a small grandstand in the rows in which
they qualified. If you pay attention, you can see a lot of goofing around and face making! The fans loved it - and
showed up in bunches to watch. Brian Barnhart did his usual speech going over the rules and regulations for the
drivers, although they'll have another private Meeting tomorrow before the race that, I'm sure, will be more
detailed (and maybe more pointed with regards to safety and respect for other drivers). I always watch this Public
Driver's Meeting in awe, as sitting in front of me is a person whose life will be totally changed in about 30 hours.
Who will it be this year?
Driver's got rings presented to them for qualifying for the 92nd Indianapolis 500 - a VERY nice representation for
their effort.
Jim Nabors (looking healthy after missing last year's race due to health reasons), Florence Henderson and Ruth
Buzzi were all in attendance, as well as then entire Hulman-George Family.
10:00 am
Today is usually a day that the track is closed, but because of the rained out Carb Day yesterday, the Freedom
100 Firestone Indy Lights race was scheduled for 12:15 pm this afternoon. There was an IndyCar driver's
autograph session this morning and then the Public Driver's Meeting will start at 10:30 am. I originally felt sorry
for the Lights drivers who will have to race in their biggest event of the year in front of a sparse crowd, but there
are a LOT of people here today. It's kind of like a bonus day at the track today. After so many rainy days where
activity was completely cancelled, not only is it a perfectly beautiful and sunny day today (temps are much warmer
than we've seen), but people who normally get into town for the big race tomorrow can actually see a competitive
event today. It will be interesting to see how many people stay for the driver's meeting then head downtown for
the 500 Festival Parade - a huge event here in Indy - or stay to watch the Lights race, which promises to be a
barnburner if it holds true to the previous races this year. This race can make or break a driver's career, and it's
always a great one to watch. Just feeling a bit bad, though, that today's weather couldn't have been yesterdays.
There was an outstanding crowd here - even in the rain. I can only imagine how many people this place would
have packed in if the weather would have been decent.
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 24 PHOTOS - DRIVER'S MEETING / RESCHEDULED FREEDOM 100
Final Results for "Firestone Freedom 100"
INDIANAPOLIS - Results Saturday of the Firestone Freedom 100 Firestone Indy Lights event May 24 at the
2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, laps
completed, reason out (if any) and money earned:
1. (1) Dillon Battistini, 40, Running $45,000
2. (6) Richard Antinucci, 40, Running $30,000
3. (3) Wade Cunningham, 40, Running $24,000
4. (13) Robbie Pecorari, 40, Running $19,000
5. (4) Ana Beatriz, 40, Running $18,000
6. (12) Bobby Wilson, 40, Running $17,000
7. (9) Logan Gomez, 40, Running $16,000
8. (10) Jeff Simmons, 40, Running $15,000
9. (11) Andrew Prendeville, 40, Running $14,000
10. (5) Raphael Matos, 40, Running $13,000
11. (19) Al Unser III, 40, Running $12,500
12. (16) Sean Guthrie, 40, Running $12,000
13. (26) Mike Potekhen, 40, Running $13,500
14. (18) Arie Luyendyk Jr., 40, Running $11,000
15. (14) Marc Williams, 40, Running $10,500
16. (7) Brent Sherman, 40, Running $9,500
17. (2) James Davison, 40, Running $8,500
18. (24) Chris Festa, 40, Running $10,000
19. (15) Pablo Donoso, 40, Running $6,500
20. (25) Jonny Reid, 40, Running $7,000
21. (22) Micky Gilbert, 40, Running $4,500
22. (20) Tom Wieringa, 40, Running $4,000
23. (17) Jake Slotten, 39, Running $4,500
24. (21) J.R. Hildebrand, 39, Running $3,000
25. (27) Mark Olson, 38, Running $3,750
26. (8) Cyndie Allemann, 22, Mechanical $2,500
27. (23) Jon Brownson, 1, Contact $2,250
Race Statistics
Winner's average speed: 150.820 mph
Time of race: 39:46.9495
Margin of victory: 0.2458 of a second
Cautions: 3 caution flags for 9 laps
Lead changes: 4 among 3 drivers
Lap leaders: Battistini 1-3, Davison 4, Battistini 5-6, Cunningham
7, Battistini 8-40.
Point standings: Antinucci 179, Battistini 176, Hildebrand 148,
Matos 127, Beatriz 121, Luyendyk Jr. 119, Guthrie 110, Sherman 103,
Unser III 102, Gomez 101.
UPDATES:
3:00 pm
Watching Helio Castroneves give fellow "Dancing With The Stars" partner and champion a ride around the
Speedway in a Corvette Pace Car.
Renowned racing broadcaster and historian Bob Jenkins received the 2008 Bob Russo Founders Award
presented by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association during the organization's annual
breakfast this morning at IMS.
IZOD has signed on as a clothing sponsor of Guthrie Racing driver Logan Gomez.
ESPN is providing worldwide distribution of the Indianapolis 500, with coverage exceeding 200 countries and
territories including 375 million households.
Celebrities expected to attend tomorrows Indy 500 include: Kristi Yamaguchi (will wave green flag); Julianna
Hough (will sing National Anthem); Carlos Diaz ("Extra" correspondent); Paul Adelstein (actor); Marcus Allen
(former NFL superstar); Richard Branson (Virgin Group); Ruth Buzzi (actress, comedian); Kim Coates (actor),
Brad Cooper (actor); David Cubitt (actor); Baron Davis (NBA star); Anthony Edwards (actor); Jenna Elfman
(actress); William Fichtner (actor); Nicky Hayden (2006 MotoGP World Champion); Patricia Heaton (actress);
Florence Henderson (actress and entertainer); Drew Lachey (singer and entertainer); Max Martini (actor);
Cameron Mathison (actor); Marlee Matlin (actress); Ted McGinley (actor); Candice Michelle (WWE diva); Bode
Miller (skiing world champion); Frankie Muniz (actor); Luke Perry (actor); Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr. (Commander,
North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command); Slash (musician); Alison
Sweeney (actress); Alex Tai (Virgin Galactic); Whitney Thompson (model); David Uhl (artist); Major Gen. R.
Martin Umbarger (Adjutant General of Indiana, Indiana National Guard); Ian Ziering (actor)
1:30 pm
Boy, what a race the Freedom 100 was! As usual, The Firestone Indy Lights Series put on a show for the
thousands upon thousands in attendance. A perfect weather day brought out WAY more people than expected
(because of the competing Parade downtown), and they got their money's worth...even if the day was free! Very
enthusiastic crowd that was highly intelligent about what was going on. Besides a lap-one incident involving Jon
Brownson (front wing), the race was fairly clean - only later in the race did a couple of cars get together, but they
didn't crash. Side-by-side-by-side racing (4-wide at one point) was the norm. Although it wasn't the best
circumstance for the Lights Series to have to run today - they missed out on live ESPN2 television coverage
yesterday - it made for an exciting day here at IMS, combined with the early AM autograph session, and the
Public Driver's Meeting.
11:30 pm
Public Driver's Meeting is now over and the drivers are all headed downtown in vans to be in the 500 Festival
Parade. The Driver's Meeting is always entertaining, as the drivers sit in a small grandstand in the rows in which
they qualified. If you pay attention, you can see a lot of goofing around and face making! The fans loved it - and
showed up in bunches to watch. Brian Barnhart did his usual speech going over the rules and regulations for the
drivers, although they'll have another private Meeting tomorrow before the race that, I'm sure, will be more
detailed (and maybe more pointed with regards to safety and respect for other drivers). I always watch this Public
Driver's Meeting in awe, as sitting in front of me is a person whose life will be totally changed in about 30 hours.
Who will it be this year?
Driver's got rings presented to them for qualifying for the 92nd Indianapolis 500 - a VERY nice representation for
their effort.
Jim Nabors (looking healthy after missing last year's race due to health reasons), Florence Henderson and Ruth
Buzzi were all in attendance, as well as then entire Hulman-George Family.
10:00 am
Today is usually a day that the track is closed, but because of the rained out Carb Day yesterday, the Freedom
100 Firestone Indy Lights race was scheduled for 12:15 pm this afternoon. There was an IndyCar driver's
autograph session this morning and then the Public Driver's Meeting will start at 10:30 am. I originally felt sorry
for the Lights drivers who will have to race in their biggest event of the year in front of a sparse crowd, but there
are a LOT of people here today. It's kind of like a bonus day at the track today. After so many rainy days where
activity was completely cancelled, not only is it a perfectly beautiful and sunny day today (temps are much warmer
than we've seen), but people who normally get into town for the big race tomorrow can actually see a competitive
event today. It will be interesting to see how many people stay for the driver's meeting then head downtown for
the 500 Festival Parade - a huge event here in Indy - or stay to watch the Lights race, which promises to be a
barnburner if it holds true to the previous races this year. This race can make or break a driver's career, and it's
always a great one to watch. Just feeling a bit bad, though, that today's weather couldn't have been yesterdays.
There was an outstanding crowd here - even in the rain. I can only imagine how many people this place would
have packed in if the weather would have been decent.
