Indy 500 2000 - Foyt rows his boat

Foyt rows his boat
By Jack Arute, Special to ABC Sports Online

INDIANAPOLIS -- Billy Boat holds the Indy Racing Northern Light Series record for pole positions. His seven starts from the number one spot did little to help him make this year's Indy 500 field off 33 on Sunday.


	Billy Boat crashed early on Sunday before sneaking into the field during the last minute of qualifying in an A.J. Foyt-owned car.

A year ago, Boat was the top driver for A.J. Foyt. But at the end of the season, the Arizona State graduate found himself without a ride when Foyt unceremoniously released him from the team. Undaunted, Boat tried to put his own racing team together and failed to do so. Just days before the season opener, he agreed to serve as a driving coach for Team Pelfrey. They elected to hire Sarah McCune as their driver for the 2000 season. But when the Delphi Indy 200 race at Walt Disney World rolled off the line it was Boat, not McCune, in the driver's seat.

Team Pelfrey is an under-funded, very small team. They came to Indy sponsor-less, and went to the banks to secure a loan to purchase a 2000 chassis. Boat stayed with Pelfrey until the 11th hour.

When Boat crashed early on Sunday, Team Pelfrey went to work trying to repair the only 2000 car they had. Boat stayed in their garage and did not go shopping for another ride.

Enter A.J. Foyt. If you were watching ABC's coverage of Bump Day, you heard me ask A.J. about the possibilities of Billy qualifying one of his backup cars. This is the same guy that fired Boat, but it's also the man who has stood next to Billy in numerous victory lanes. Until that point, A.J. had not even considered Billy because he was under the impression that Boat's team was repairing the car. Once he told me (and you) that he would give Billy a shot, the wheels went into motion for Boat to reunite with Foyt.

After failing to get Foyt's car driven by Roberto Guerrero up to qualifying speed, A.J. called for Eliseo Salazar's backup car. But the clock was ticking and time was running out. When Billy Boat sat in the 11T for the first time, it was to fire the engine for his four-lap qualifying attempt. No sooner had the engine fired, the six o'clock deadline passed. But Indy rules say that if an engine is fired before time expires, the driver is allowed to complete his attempt.

Like a desperation, half-court pass at the buzzer, Boat didn't know what to expect. But he scored big to earn a spot in the 84th Indianapolis 500 (ABC, May 28 noon ET).

This story clearly embodies many of the unique aspects of the race called the Indy 500. Enemies become friends, and the unexpected becomes the expected. With apologies to Jim McKay, every year we experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

While Billy Boat and A.J. Foyt celebrated in their garage, Dr. Jack Miller simply shook his head in his. Miller was the man bumped by Boat's last-second heroics. Dr. Jack, a practicing dentist, had a speed clearly strong enough to put him in the field of 33. But he lifted in Turn 1 on his third lap of the four required, killing the momentum of his run, which dropped his speed some three mph. It made his spot vulnerable to the Foyt/Brack attack.

Jack Arute mans the pits for ABC Sports' auto racing coverage. He will be checking in daily from the Indy 500 this week.

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