Indy 500 2000 - Plenty of contenders to challenge for pole

Plenty of contenders to challenge for pole
Associated Press


	Juan Montoya talks with engineer Bill Pappas during a break in practice Friday. Montoya topped 222 mph once again.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Pick a driver. Just about any driver.

In a week of practice, hampered by periodic rain and strong wind, no clear favorite to win the pole for the May 28 Indianapolis 500 has jumped out of the pack.

"Everything's very equal," said Greg Ray, the defending Indy Racing League champion and one of perhaps a dozen drivers who appear capable of running up front Saturday, the first of two days of time trials at the Indianapolis Motor speedway.

"There's a lot of parity in the equipment. The chassis are all built under the same rules, very, very close in performance. Everybody with the exception of (Eddie) Cheever is running the Aurora engine, and we're all running the Firestone tires."

With a new engine formula adopted this year by the IRL, slicing 50 horsepower, the top speeds are not likely to approach last year's pole speed of 225.179 mph by now-retired Arie Luyendyk.

RAY MAKES 7-FOR-7

INDIANAPOLIS -- Seven days, seven drivers. That has been the story leading up to the 84th Indianapolis 500 as seven different drivers have led seven different days of practice heading into Saturday's qualifying for the pole.

Greg Ray of Team Menard was the fastest driver in practice in five of the seven practice days in 1999. He did not become the fastest driver at Indy this year until Friday's practice, when he claimed the top spot on the speed charts with 42 minutes left in the session.

Ray whipped off a lap at 223.948 miles per hour in a Dallara/Oldsmobile Aurora. That knocked Jeff Ward and Scott Sharp off the top of the scoring pylon after both drivers ran identical laps of 222.949 mph earlier in the day.

By getting the fast lap on the final full day of practice, it has boosted Ray's confidence that he can win the pole for the world's biggest race.

"It's going to make me sleep a helluva lot better tonight," Ray said. "I know we've always been capable of standing on the gas, we just didn't have the right setup. The last part of the day, we got the car ready for the conditions, and that has certainly give me a lot of confidence."

Ray is part of a potent two-car entry with Gordon at Team Menard.

"I think there were a couple times this week we could have posted the fast time," Ray said. "We've been out of sync somehow. We would get a good lap going and then we would hit a yellow. Finally, we got a little bit of open track space. The car is very close for these conditions."

This is the first time since the Indianapolis Motor Speedway kept record on practice days in 1971 that different drivers have led all seven days.

Al Unser Jr. was the fastest on opening day. On Sunday, it was Eddie Cheever with Gordon the fast man on Monday. Tuesday was Scott Sharp's turn, Juan Montoya was the fastest on Wednesday and CART teammate Jimmy Vasser took the honors on Thursday.
-- ESPN.com news services

But there is still enough speed on the narrow 2½-mile oval to raise some eyebrows.

Ray, leading a very busy -- and fast -- final hour of practice Friday, turned a lap of 223.948 mph, the fastest since practice began Saturday.

Other quick drivers Friday included Jeff Ward -- driving A.J. Foyt, who won the race last year with Kenny Brack -- and two-time IRL champion Scott Sharp, both at 222.949, Eliseo Salazar of Chile at 222.921 and Robby Gordon at 222.901.

In fact, with cool, overcast weather -- nearly perfect for speed -- eight drivers had laps above 222 and 25 of the 48 cars that made it onto the track Friday were over 220.

"Until today, we haven't been able to run quite as much as we thought we would be able to," Ray said. "We've had windy conditions, pretty muggy conditions and the track's green because it's rained quite a bit.

"That, plus the fact that everyone gets some tow when there are other cars on the track, means that nobody really knows what has what going into qualifying. We'll all find out Saturday."

Among other candidates for the $150,000 pole are former race winners Al Unser Jr., Buddy Lazier and Cheever, as well as CART stars Juan Montoya and Jimmy Vasser -- all consistently fast during this week.

"I think the pole will be somewhere in the 222s," Cheever said. "And I think there's going to be a mad rush to get in the race. There's a lot of fast cars and good cars.

"I'd like to be in the top two rows tomorrow with a nice clean run, then sit back and enjoy the show. If we can manage that, on Sunday we'll work on race setups."

Under Indy's unique format, each driver must make a four-lap, 10-mile qualifying run to earn a spot in the 33-car lineup. If the field is filled before time runs out on Sunday afternoon, the slowest qualifiers can be bumped by faster cars.

The qualifying order for Saturday is determined in a blind draw.

Vasser, who has been part of the boycott by the CART teams since the 1995 race, last qualified here at 227.350.

"Back then we practice over 230, 232," the 1996 CART champion said. "I think we qualified in the wind and the heat and didn't go over 228."

Comparing the cars from then and now, Vasser said, "These cars are not planted, by no means. To make them go fast, you have to loosen them up. You've got to take all the things that make downforce and drag off that you can.

"From my seat, it is an edgy car when you want to go fast. In a way it's similar to before because you have to put it on the ragged edge."

Another driver returning after a five-year absence is two-time winner Unser Jr., who is back with Rick Galles, his team owner when he first won Indy in 1992.

"I'm going for the pole," Unser said. "The team is capable. The G Force is a good car and Oldsmobile has given us a good engine."

With all the action on the track, there were bound to be some problems.

Mark Dismore, one of the drivers over 222 during the day, Jack Miller, Hideshi Matsuda of Japan and rookie Ronnie Johncox all hit the wall during the day. Lazier also brushed the wall. None of them was injured.

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