Rice On Way To Victory Racing-Action-Images

Rice Earns Largest Purse In Race History
Buddy Rice earned $1,761,740 from a total purse of $10,250,580 for his victory May 30 in the 88th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, the largest winner's and overall awards in the history of the race. The unofficial prize figures were announced May 31 at the Indianapolis 500 Victory Celebration at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rice's winning purse exceeded the prior record of $1,606,215 earned by Helio Castroneves for his second victory in the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing," in 2002. Rice's total included $100,000 for winning the MBNA Pole, as he became the first pole winner to triumph in the race since Arie Luyendyk in 1997.

This year's event purse broke the previous record of $10,151,830, set in 2003. This is the third consecutive year the overall purse for the field of 33 drivers has exceeded $10 million. The event purse is comprised of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy Racing League awards, and other designated awards. Rice, a 28-year-old native of Phoenix, earned his first Indianapolis 500 victory in his second start while driving the No. 15 Rahal-Letterman Argent/Pioneer Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone. He led 91 of 180 laps, as the race ended under caution after 450 of 500 scheduled miles due to rain. It was Rice's first career Indy Racing League® IndyCar® Series victory. 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal and late-night television icon David Letterman, an Indianapolis native, are the co-owners of Rice's winning car.

Tony Kanaan earned $659,240 for finishing second in the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone. His Andretti Green Racing teammate, Dan Wheldon, finished third in the No. 26 Klein Tools/Jim Beam Dallara/Honda/Firestone and earned $533,040. Kosuke Matsuura, driver of the No. 55 Panasonic ARTA Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone, earned the Bank One Rookie of the Year Award and its $25,000 bonus. Matsuura, 24, from Aichi, Japan, was the highest-finishing rookie, placing 11th, and also the top-qualifying rookie, starting ninth in an entry fielded by Super Aguri Fernandez Racing. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Castroneves was awarded the Scott Brayton Driver's Trophy, presented since 1997 to the driver who exemplifies the character and racing spirit of the late Scott Brayton.

Rice Beats Rain and Competition To Win Indy
Rahal-Letterman Racing made it a clean sweep at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May when Buddy Rice claimed victory in the 88th Indianapolis 500 under caution when the race stopped on Lap 180 due to rain. Rice, driver of the No. 15 Rahal-Letterman Argent/Pioneer Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone, also won the MBNA Pole Award and his crew claimed the victory in the Checkers/Rally's Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge on May 27.

Rice, the first American-born winner of the 500 since 1998, captured his first Indy Racing League® IndyCar® Series victory and Honda's first win at the Speedway. He became the 17th Indianapolis 500 winner from the pole, and the first since Arie Luyendyk in 1997. He led four times for 91 laps. Andretti Green Racing grabbed the next three spots, with Tony Kanaan finishing second, Dan Wheldon third and Bryan Herta fourth. Bruno Junqueira rounded out the top five for as Honda claimed the first seven positions.
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Indy 500 Will Be Televised Around The World
ESPN will distribute the 88th Indianapolis 500, the world's most prestigious auto race, to the largest worldwide television audience in the history of the event, said Mark S. Reilly, ESPN's vice president and general manager of international sales. ESPN will televise the Indianapolis 500 live to 149 countries and territories outside of the United States via its affiliated networks in Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America, New Zealand and the Middle East.

ESPN is also responsible for the global syndication of the Indianapolis 500 for broadcast in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In addition, ESPN has reached an agreement with Eurosport, the most widely available channel in Europe, reaching more than 95 million homes and 250 million viewers in 54 countries, to televise the Indianapolis 500 on same-day delay. In the United States, the Indianapolis 500 will be telecast live to a nationwide audience on Disney-owned ABC.

When combined with ESPN's international distribution efforts, the estimated worldwide total for the Indianapolis 500 will reach 205 countries and more than 420 million households worldwide - a new record for a third consecutive year. In addition to the broad global television distribution of the race, this year's Indianapolis 500 also has a particular international appeal. Of the 33 starting drivers, 14 are from countries outside of the United States, including five drivers from Brazil, four drivers from the England, two drivers from Japan, and one driver each from Mexico, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Rice Team Wins Pit-Stop Competition
If pole sitter Buddy Rice receives the same quick service in the 88th Indianapolis 500 that he had in the Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Challenge on May 27, he'll be in the hunt at the end. Rahal-Letterman Racing Pioneer/Argent crew members, with Rice as the driver, defeated Marlboro Team Penske, with Helio Castroneves in the seat, in the championship of the competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"These guys have never given up," said Rice, a first-year driver for Rahal-Letterman Racing. "They've done an excellent job the whole time. So this has been a big deal for them and everything. This has been huge. These guys have had an excellent time. This is their deal and their time to shine, and that's what's supposed to happen. We're starting on the pole and have been working hard all month. This is just icing on the cake for them. Now have to go and focus on Sunday and hope we can win the big one."

Rahal-Letterman Racing, the 13th different team to win the Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Challenge, received $30,000 of an $80,000 purse. Twelve teams began the competition, in which they had to change four tires and make a simulated make fuel hose connection to the car's fuel cell for a minimum of three seconds after the car came into the pit area. The Rahal-Letterman Racing team had a final-round time of 12.3365 seconds. It defeated Andretti Green Racing (Dan Wheldon) in one semifinal, while Marlboro Team Penske topped Andretti Green Racing (Tony Kanaan) in the other semifinal.

Carb Day Incident-Free
Miller Lite Carb Day was the final opportunities for IRL IndyCar® Series drivers to make pre-race adjustments for the 88th Running of the Indianapolis 500. The two-hour session May 27, in which all 33 starters for the 88th Indianapolis Motor Speedway combined for 624 incident-free laps, was the final opportunity for teams to shake down their entries and scrub the tires before the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" on May 30.

Subway Will Sponsor Little Al
In other IndyCar Series news, Subway officials announced today that it will serve as primary sponsor of the No. 20 Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone driven by two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Al Unser Jr. for the 88th running of the Indianapolis 500. "It's great to have Subway involved in the Indianapolis 500," Unser said. "We'll do everything we can to give them a good run."

Pit Stop Challenge On Thursday
Twelve of the fastest pit crews in motorsports will challenge May 27 for bragging right, the first-place trophy and $30,000 winner's check during the 28th annual Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Challenge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Since 1977, the Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Challenge has paired the finest pit crews and drivers - including 11 Indianapolis 500 winners - in exciting head-to-head competition to determine the fastest pit crew at Indy for the year.

The 2003 Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Challenge begins at 1:30 p.m. (EST, Indy time). It will be televised on a tape-delayed basis as part of a Miller Lite Carb Day recap from 3:30-6 p.m. (EDT) on ESPN2. The pit stop competition is part of a full and exciting day of activities during Miller Lite Carb Day. Final practice for the 33 Indianapolis 500-Mile Race competitors takes place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (EST), the Checker's/Rally's Pit Stop Challenge gets underway at 1:30 p.m., and the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert, featuring the band Live, starts at 3:30 p.m. 1999 Indy winner Kenny Brack and his band, Kenny Brack and the Subwoofers, are the opening act.

Festival Community Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Adults and children of all ages will find many exciting and interesting activities Wednesday, May 26, during 500 Festival Community Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Fans will be treated to a driver autograph session, special activities and special access to the Speedway's historic Gasoline Alley garage area and pit lane, and admission is affordable for all. Public gates are open at 9 a.m. (EST) for access to the IMS Hall of Fame Museum and attractions in the museum's east lot. At 11 a.m., the Garage Area and Pit Lane open to the public, and fans can take one lap around the world-famous 2.5-mile oval in their personal car. This is the only day of the year fans can lap the historic oval in their vehicle. Admission for Community Day is only $5 per person, with children ages 6 and younger admitted for free. The facility will close at 6 p.m. TO READ MORE... (Speed News Now)

Medeiros Wins Futaba Freedom 100 At Indy
Thiago Medeiros won his second consecutive IRL Menards Infiniti Pro SeriesT race on May 22, taking the lead from Jeff Simmons on Lap 13 and claiming the Futaba Freedom 100. Medeiros, starting from the pole position for the second race in a row, won under a caution after the No. 10 Roquin Motorsports Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone entry of Rolando Quintanilla made contact with the inside retaining wall in Turn 2 on Lap 38. Quintanilla was uninjured in the accident.

Medeiros, driving the No. 11 Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara/Infiniti/ Firestone, has won three of the past four Menards Infiniti Pro Series races. He averaged 141.931 mph en route to the win. Simmons, who started third in the No. 14 A.J. Foyt Racing entry, finished second. Medeiros' teammate, Arie Luyendyk Jr., finished third. Valvoline USAC Sprint Car Series points leader Jay Drake finished fourth, and Phil Giebler - who won the opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway, was fifth.
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Simmons Earns Ride In 500
Jeff Simmons is one of the Indy Racing League's founding principles in microcosm - provide opportunities for new sponsors, teams and drivers to enter the sport at the highest level. Simmons, who finished second in the Futaba Freedom 100 on May 22 for A.J. Foyt Racing, will attempt to qualify May 23 for his first Indianapolis 500 in the No. 21 Mo Nunn Racing Dallara/Toyota/Firestone.

Simmons said he expected to get some seat time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway late in the afternoon practice session May 22. "This is just great," said Simmons, who will join Tora Takagi with Mo Nunn Racing. "I'm getting the opportunity of a lifetime and I'm thankful to Mo Nunn, (team manager) Peter Parrott and everyone at the IRL that has helped put this together for me. "I just had a great run in the Pro Series and, to be honest, that helped give me the chance."

Robby McGehee Finds Last Minute Ride
Robby McGehee spent the past week in Indianapolis, seeking a ride for the Indianapolis 500. On Thursday, his persistence paid off. McGehee, 30, will be behind the wheel of a PDM racing Dallara/Chevrolet on Sunday, the final day of qualifying for the May 30 race. Twenty-six cars landed spots on the grid last Saturday and Sunday, with Buddy Rice winning the pole position. A full field would be 33 cars.

"I'm really excited," McGehee said. "This isn't the way I wanted to do it, but I'm confident that I'll be able to go out there and run it." McGehee hasn't driven regularly on the Indy Racing League circuit since the 2002 season. He said he expects to turn his first laps in the car, which is being leased from Robby Gordon's team, on Saturday. "I'll be honest, I'm a little nervous, just because I haven't done it in so long," McGehee said. "But I'm certainly not worried about it all. There's a little rust, but it'll come right off."(STLToday)

Medeiros Wins Futaba Freedom 100 Pole
Thiago Medeiros watched 15 other IRL Menards Infiniti Pro SeriesT cars qualify May 21 for the Futaba Freedom 100. He then went out and topped all their efforts. Medeiros claimed his second consecutive pole position, posting a two-lap average of 189.274 mph at the historic 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the May 22 Futaba Freedom 100. The race will take place at 2 p.m. (EDT), and will be televised live on ESPN2.

The qualifying highlighted a busy day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as IRL IndyCar® Series teams preparing for the 88th running of the Indianapolis 500 put in a full day of practice.Adrian Fernandez continued Honda's strong run at the Speedway, posting the fastest lap of the day, 218.257 mph, in his No. 5 Quaker State Telmex Tecate Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone.

500 Practice Continues
1996 Indianapolis 500 champion Buddy Lazier made his on-track debut, driving the No. 24T Team Purex/Dreyer & Reinbold Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone for his new team, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Lazier's fastest lap, 215.513, was fastest among non-qualified entries.

The day was marred by a single incident, which damaged the qualified entry of Andretti Green Racing's Bryan Herta. Herta was not injured in the crash, which occurred as his No. 7T XM Satellite Radio Dallara/Honda/Firestone suffered a wishbone failure in the right-rear as his car entered Turn 3. The car suffered damage to the left side.

Rookie Leads Thursday Practice
Rookie Kosuke Matsuura turned the top lap, 220.784 mph, during a busy day of practice for the 88th Indianapolis 500 on May 20. Twenty-five driver-car combinations totaled 2,026 laps - a high for the month - in 5 hours, 42 minutes of short- and long-stint running. With the IRL IndyCar® Series using 30-gallon fuel cells and 3.0-liter engines for the first time in the 500-Mile Race, many runs were to collect data on fuel consumption.

A.J. Foyt IV had the lone incident of the day when his No. 14T Conseco A.J. Foyt Racing Panoz G Force/Toyota/Firestone made light contact with the inside retaining wall in the short chute between Turns 3 and 4 at 2:24 p.m. (EDT). The impact dislodged the rear wing. He was checked at the infield medical center and returned to practice in the same car later in the day. Another driver-car combination was added to the field as PDM Racing announced it would field its No. 18 Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone entry for 1999 Indy 500 Bank One Rookie of the Year Robby McGehee.

Infiniti Pro Series Practice
The Menards Infiniti Pro Series made its first appearance this month at the Speedway, as 17 cars participated in the initial practice for the Futaba Freedom 100, scheduled May 22 at the historic 2.5-mile oval. Seven drivers, led by Marty Roth's lap of 190.340 mph, were faster than Ed Carpenter's pole speed of 188.348 mph in the inaugural Freedom 100 in 2003.

Lazier Lands 500 Ride
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing will field a second entry in the 88th running of the Indianapolis 500 for 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Lazier, team officials announced May 19. Lazier, the 2000 IRL IndyCar® Series champion, will drive the No. 23 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone, joining 2001 Bombardier Rookie of the Year Felipe Giaffone in the team co-owned by Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl. Lazier has competed in 83 IRL races since 1996, recording eight wins, 25 top-five finishes and 50 top-10 finishes, including his 1996 victory at Indianapolis. A native of Vail, Colorado, Lazier won the 2000 IRL championship, finished second in the 2001 championship race and has an outstanding record at Indianapolis with two second places, a fourth place and a seventh place. Lazier has not started an IndyCar Series event this season. Details of the car's sponsorship package will be released soon. The team anticipates Lazier taking the track for practice before Bump Day on May 23. The deal currently is structured as an Indy-only effort.

Rain Ends Wednesday Practice Early
Practice for the 88th Indianapolis 500 ended 30 minutes early today because of rain at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Defending IndyCar® Series champion Scott Dixon was fastest at 220.576 mph in the No. 1T Target Chip Ganassi Racing Panoz G Force/Toyota/Firestone. "The Hondas are strong still," Dixon said. "That was something we thought was going to happen. We didn't really have too much on-track stuff today. We tried to do some back-to-back stuff this morning on the close to qualifying setup to see if we had sort of stepped on ourselves there. Generally, we didn't find much. I think a lot of other people did a lot of running."

Most the 26 qualified drivers in the field turned laps on a busy day on the 2.5-mile oval as priorities turned from qualifying to race set-ups. Dixon turned his fast lap just before noon, as many teams took advantage of favorable conditions early in the day. The Panoz G Force chassis ruled the day as Honda-powered rookie Kosuke Matsuura turned in the second fastest lap at 219.417 mph, followed by Roger Yasukawa and Adrian Fernandez. Rookie Mark Taylor was unhurt in a practice crash earlier today. His No. 2T Menards/Johns Manville Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone suffered light damage after hitting the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2.

Cory Witherill To Drive In Futaba® Freedom 100
Menards Infiniti Pro SeriesT veteran Cory Witherill will drive the No. 92 Hemelgarn 91 Johnson Motorsports entry in the Futaba® Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 22. Witherill, 32, was one of only three drivers to start every Menards Infiniti Pro Series race in the series' first two seasons. Ed Carpenter and Arie Luyendyk Jr. also started all 19 events in 2002 and 2003.

Witherill, who started the 2001 Indianapolis 500, recorded his lone series victory at Nashville in 2002. Coupled with three additional podium finishes, Witherill finished fourth in the points standings. Last year, Witherill finished fifth in the Menards Infiniti Pro Series, recording three second-place finishes and a third-place finish in 12 starts. He finished second in the inaugural Futaba Freedom 100. "It's great to be back in the series, especially at Indianapolis," Witherill said. "I spent last week talking to teams for both the 500 and the Freedom 100. Last Sunday, (team manager) Lee Kunzman called and asked if I'd like to drive for them again. We finished second last year. I know it's a great car and a great team." The Futaba Freedom 100 will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. EDT on May 22. The 88th running of the Indianapolis 500 will be broadcast live on ABC at Noon on May 30.

PJ Jones Will Try To Qualify On Last Day
PJ Jones, son of 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner Parnelli Jones, will attempt to qualify for the 88th Indianapolis 500 in a Beck Motorsports entry, team owner Greg Beck announced. Jones will begin practice in the No. 98 CURB Records-sponsored Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone either Wednesday, May 19 or Thursday, May 20 and will attempt to qualify on Bump Day, Sunday, May 23, Beck said. The paint scheme will be similar to that on "Old Calhoun," the roadster that Parnelli Jones drove to victory in 1963 at Indianapolis. Jones, 35, from Torrance, Calif., will attempt to make his first Indy 500 start. He was injured during a crash while driving for Team Menard in practice for the 2002 Indianapolis 500 and did not attempt to qualify. PJ Jones is a veteran of CART, IMSA sports car, NASCAR and USAC competition. He made 58 CART starts with a best finish of second in 1999 at Nazareth, Pa. He also was on the overall winning team at the 1993 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona sports car race.

Four More Qualify On Sunday
Crew members didn't receive overtime pay for their efforts in reconstructing the No. 24 Team Purex/Dreyer & Reinbold Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone. But they got the satisfaction of seeing Felipe Giaffone qualify the primary car May 16 for the 88th Indianapolis 500. Second-day qualifying added four cars to the field for the May 30 classic, including the No. 24 that made contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 1 during MBNA Pole Day Qualifications. Bryan Herta, Alex Barron and Tora Takagi also qualified, increasing the field to 26. The field average through two of three rounds of qualifying is 218.856 mph. There is no track activity May 17 and 18.

After putting the car back together in the morning, it was turned over to Giaffone for shakedown laps before a potential qualifying run. Another twist was thrown at the team about 6:25 p.m. (EDT) when they noticed smoke coming from the undertray. After it was checked and cleared, Giaffone left the qualification line two minutes before the end of the session. Herta and Barron qualified in their back-up cars after their primary cars also made contact with the wall in Turn 1 on May 15. Herta, in the No. 7T XM Satellite Radio Dallara/Honda/Firestone, will start from the middle of the seventh row after posting a four-lap average speed of 219.871 mph. Barron, in the No. 51T Red Bull Cheever Racing Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone, had an average speed of 218.836 mph and will start from the outside of Row 8. Takagi, in the No. 12 Pioneer Mo Nunn Racing Dallara/Toyota/Firestone, had an average speed of 214.364 mph and is the slowest qualifier.

Indy 500 Front Row Racing-Action-Images

Buddy Rice On Indy 500 Pole
Rahal-Letterman Racing's Buddy Rice recorded a four-lap average speed of 222.024 mph May 15 to win the MBNA Pole Award in qualifications for the 88th Indianapolis 500. It was the second IRL IndyCar® Series pole for Rice and Rahal-Letterman Racing, which also sat on the pole at the season-opening Toyota Indy 300 on Feb. 29. Rice had a combined, four-lap time of 2:42.1445 in the No. 15 Rahal-Letterman Argent/Pioneer Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone. Rice claimed Honda's first Indianapolis 500 pole, and the manufacturer took the top seven starting spots.

"To come here and drive for a team as big as Rahal-Letterman and to get not only their first pole for them at Homestead, it was my first pole, and now it's all of our first poles here again at Indy," Rice said. "It's just an unbelievable feeling right now."

Dan Wheldon was second (221.524 mph), and Andretti Green Racing teammate Dario Franchitti (221.471 mph) completed the front row for the May 30 "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Wheldon has started on the front row in the last three IRL IndyCar® Series events.

"In all fairness, the conditions are difficult out there," said Wheldon, the IndyCar Series points leader. "It seems it takes a little while for the tires to get up to temperature, and I think with how competitive the field is, certainly this year it seems more difficult than last year that suddenly people that could contend for the pole."

Twenty-two cars qualified, and 27 turned laps on a cool afternoon. Three drivers' qualifying efforts ended with separate incidents in Turn 1. Drivers Alex Barron (Red Bull Cheever Racing) and Felipe Giaffone (Dreyer & Reinbold Racing) were uninjured following their accidents, which occurred shortly after each took the green flag.

Bryan Herta, who also crashed shortly after taking the green flag, suffered abrasions to his right leg and foot after his car made heavy contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 1. His status will be re-evaluated on May 16. Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 continues on May 16.
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Robby Gordon Qualifies 18th , Quickly Leaves
Robby Gordon left almost as quickly as he toured the Speedway during qualifying. Gordon had a four-lap average speed of 216.522 mph to place him on the outside of the sixth row in his No. 70T Meijer/Coca-Cola Robby Gordon Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone. He immediately left by helicopter and private jet to participate in a 6 p.m. (EDT) mandatory drivers meeting before the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race in Richmond, Va. The owner-driver had a 3:30 p.m. (EDT) deadline to put his car on the Speedway oval for a qualification attempt.

Gordon on May 14 qualified sixth for the NEXTEL Cup event. He finished 19th in the May 14 NASCAR Busch Series 250 at Richmond and then had a 65-minute flight to Indianapolis. “I’m pretty disappointed,” said Gordon, who had limited practice time in the No. 70T after his primary car made contact with the Turn 2 wall on April 10. “The car just started getting tighter and tighter with every lap. It’s going to be our worst qualifying effort in years here at Indianapolis. Normally (team manager/engineer) Thomas Knapp and myself, we hit it pretty good here but we just missed it this time. But we’ll work real hard on race set-up next week and get ourselves in a position to have a good race day.”

Giaffone and Herta Crash In Qualifying Attempt
Felipe Giaffone and Bryan Herta crashed on their respective qualifying attempts. Giaffone was unhurt and cleared to drive. Herta suffered abrasions to his right leg and right foot and was not cleared to drive. His status will be re-evaluated Sunday and late Saturday, word has it that he will be cleared for an attempt on Sunday.

Day Six..Rain Washes Out Practice
Rain forced cancellation of the sixth day of practice May 14 for the 88th Indianapolis 500 at 3:45 p.m. (EDT). Four cars totaled six laps before the rain came just after noon (EDT). Teams have a two-hour window to fine-tune their cars May 15 before Pole Qualifying begins at noon (EDT). The forecast is for clear skies and a temperature in the low 70s. Tony Kanaan, in the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone, has the top speed of the month at 222.668 mph (40.4189 seconds). Helio Castroneves (221.156 mph) led practice on May 13.

Day Five..Castroneves Fastest Again
Helio Castroneves became the first driver to top the speed chart for the second time as he led the fifth day of practice for the Indianapolis 500. Castroneves turned a lap of 221.156 mph in his No. 3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota/Firestone late in Happy Hour to take the top spot from Rahal-Letterman Racing's Roger Yasukawa.

"Unfortunately, I did have a draft," Castroneves said. "Today it seems the speeds came down slightly because of the rain. The track was cooler. That means we have more drag, so we were slower down the straight. It might be easier going through the corners, but on the straights, we were just a little bit slower. It was important to test today to have a little bit of an understanding of going from the hot weather to not so hot."

Yasukawa posted a fast lap of 221.093 in his No. 16 Rahal-Letterman Sammy Panoz G Force/Honda/Firestone. Castroneves' teammate, Sam Hornish Jr., was third-fastest at 220.956 mph in his No. 6 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota/Firestone entry. Practice was delayed more than four hours by rain, then ended early when Scott Sharp spun and hit the SAFER Barrier in the short chute between Turns 1 and 2. Sharp was uninjured in the incident.

4th Day Shows Kanaan Quickest
Tony Kanaan and Dan Wheldon race hard. On May 12, the Andretti Green Racing teammates practiced hard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Kanaan set the standard in practice for the 88th Indianapolis 500 with a fast lap of 222.668 mph (40.4189 seconds) just before 1 p.m. (EDT) in the No.11 Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone on a humid and breezy day. Wheldon, who started from the pole in the past two IRL IndyCar® Series races, was second quick with a lap of 221.953 mph (40.5491 seconds) near the end of "Happy Hour" at the historic 2.5-mile oval. They combined for 84 laps.

Nine of the 29 car-driver combinations topped 220 mph in the session, and Kanaan was the fourth speed king in as many practice days. There were no incidents as drivers totaled 1,567 laps. Rookie Marty Roth, looking for speed in his No. 25 Roth Racing Dallara/Toyota/Firestone, recorded the most laps with 128 - the high for the month. Kanaan's fast lap, however, was compliments of a tow from Bruno Junqueira, but overall he's content with his package. "I wish I could have done that by myself, but it's not the reality," said Kanaan, who has one victory and a two other top-10 finishes in the three IndyCar Series races. "I'm just happy because I'm starting to like the way the Team 7-Eleven car feels. But today is not the important day. I can love my car today and hate it tomorrow. That is what this place can do to you. We'll get back to it (May 13), be patient and just think about what changes we want to make as we get closer to (Pole Qualifying Day) Saturday."

Day Three -Speeds Climbing
The speeds keep climbing. IRL IndyCar® Series rookie Kosuke Matsuura turned the fastest lap of the month in the afternoon May 11 at 221.857 mph (40.5666 seconds) on the third day of practice for the 88th Indianapolis 500. "It was a great day," said Matsuura, driver of the No. 55 Panasonic/ARTA Panoz G Force/Honda Firestone. "It is not qualifying; it is a test day, but it was a good day. Our car was very good, and the Honda engine, as well, and the team did a very good job. Adrian (Fernandez) and I, both our cars were very quick and very strong, which is good. We will see for this Saturday. It depends on the weather and how conditions change, but it is the same for everyone. We need some luck for the qualifying, but I am very confident."

Matsuura's team co-owner, Adrian Fernandez, was second at 221.705 mph, in his No. 5 Quaker State/Telmex/Tecate Panoz G Force/Honda Firestone and Tony Kanaan was third at 220.855 mph, as Honda took four of the top-five spots on the speed chart. Felipe Giaffone (No. 24 Team Purex/Dreyer & Reinbold Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone) was involved in the only incident of the day, when he made light contact with the right rear of the car with the wall in the short chute between Turns 3 and 4, then made hard secondary contact with the SAFER Barrier with the right front of the car in Turn 4. Giaffone was uninjured in the incident.

Second Day Interupted By Rain
The Marlboro Team Penske driver, Helio Castroneves, lapped the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in 40.8533 seconds, 220.300 mph, in his No. 3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota/Firestone to lead the second day of practice for the 88th running of the Indianapolis 500. "A lot of people went out late in the session, so we just waited, waited, waited until we got a clean track," said Castroneves, a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion. "We don't want to keep trying to just put a fast time out there. We just want to make sure the car handles well. That's why we didn't do many laps."

Reigning IRL IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon was second fastest at 40.9894 seconds, 219.569 mph, in his Target Chip Ganassi Racing Panoz G Force/Toyota/Firestone as Toyota swept three of the top four spots on the time sheets.

Tony Kanaan was third at 40.9923 mph, 219.553 mph, in his Team 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda/Firestone. Tomas Scheckter was the fastest Chevrolet for the second day in a row at 41.1160 seconds, 218.893 mph.

The session was interrupted by rain for 3 hours and 35 minutes and there were two incidents for spins. Marty Roth's No. 25 Roth Racing Dallara/Toyota/Firestone entry was not damaged when he spun off of Turn 2 during the final hour of practice, but Robby Gordon's No. 70 Meijer/Coca-Cola Robby Gordon Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone suffered moderate damage when he made contact with the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 following a spin in the short chute between Turns 1 and 2.

Dixon-Castroneves Top First Day Speed Chart
Reigning IRL IndyCar® Series champion Scott Dixon topped the speed chart on the opening day of practice for the 88th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 9 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Dixon lapped the famed 2.5-mile oval at 219.760 mph, 40.9537 seconds in his No. 1 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Panoz G Force/Toyota/Firestone. "Today we were just getting both cars up to speed," Dixon said. "We didn't really do much with the T car. We trimmed it out a little, put a new set of tires on it, and I think that's where we got the time. It was pretty windy, but I think we were quite surprised at how much grip the car had, considering the last time we were here."

Helio Castroneves, a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion, was second fastest at 219.7529 mph, 40.9552 seconds in his No. 3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota/Firestone. Adrian Fernandez was third with a lap of 218.342 mph, 41.2197 seconds in the No. 5 Quaker State Telmex Tecate Panoz G Force/Honda/ Firestone. "We pretty much started the way we left off at the Open Test," Castroneves said. "The car seemed to be handling with no problems. The wind was a bit stronger than at the Open Test. We just need to wait and see once it gets closer to qualifying. Everyone knows that it's like two races: one is for qualifying, and the next one is the race. We just have to be patient and wait for the right time."

There were 33 cars on the track today, the most on a scheduled opening day since 1999, when 38 cars turned laps. A total of 43 cars are now at the Speedway, and 41 have passed technical inspection. There were 25 drivers on the track. Drivers completed 931 laps.

Great Opening Act
Children age 12 and younger will be admitted to the Speedway grounds free of charge on Indianapolis Star Opening Day on Sunday, May 9. Tickets for adults are $5 and are available on a two-for-one basis by presenting a coupon from advertisements running in The Indianapolis Star. The coupons also are available on The Star's Web site, www.indystar.com. The first 3,000 fans admitted on Indianapolis Star Opening Day will receive a free Indianapolis 500 car flag courtesy of The Star. An autograph session with Indy Racing League drivers will take place from 11 a.m.-noon (EST) in the Pagoda Plaza, located behind the Speedway's 13-story Bombardier Pagoda control tower. Opening ceremonies will begin at 12:40 p.m. IndyCar Series practice will take place from 1-6 p.m. The band "Living Proof" will perform on the Coca-Cola Stage at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Fans Can Attend Driver's Meeting - Autographs
The public is invited to attend the Drivers' Meeting at 11 a.m. (EST) Saturday, May 29 in front of the Bombardier Pagoda as the 33-driver field receives final race instructions and pre-race awards. Seating is available in the Tower Terrace. A driver autograph session will take place from 9-10 a.m. in the Bombardier Pagoda Plaza.

IRL Fan Experience
The IRL Fan Experience, a set of entertainment properties for fans, will be at various spots on the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway throughout the month. The experience includes areas such as "Indy Racing Challenge," "Indy Racing Kids," and "Indy Racing Pit Stop Challenge." The IRL Fan Experience will be at IMS on May 9, 13-23, 26-28 and 30. The IRL Fan Experience will appear at Military Park in downtown Indianapolis as part of the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on May 8 and at the 500 Festival Parade Interactive Zone on Saturday, May 29.

Get Them While They Last
Commemorative posters featuring this year's 500 Festival/Indianapolis 500 theme "Lights, Camera, Traction!" and popular IRL IndyCar Series drivers will be available free of charge to the first 3,000 guests to arrive at the Pagoda Plaza on three separate days in May. The first of three posters, available on MBNA Pole Day Qualifying on May 15, features Tony Kanaan, Greg Ray, Helio Castroneves and recently retired driver Robbie Buhl. The second poster, available May 16 for Marsh Family Day Qualifying, features Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and Alex Barron. The third poster is available on Bump Day, May 23, and includes Tomas Scheckter, A.J. Foyt IV, Sam Hornish Jr. and Sarah Fisher.

Take a Lap at Indy
500 Festival Community Day will take place May 26 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, offering fans the chance to drive their personal car around the track one time and also get autographs from Indy Racing League drivers. Gasoline Alley and pit lane will be open to the public, and 43 vintage race cars from the collection of the IMS Hall of Fame Museum will be on display on pit lane, weather permitting. Gates open at 11 a.m., and the Public Track Lap lasts from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Fans must enter the IMS grounds from the 30th Street entrance for the track lap. The driver autograph session takes place from 3-6 p.m. in Gasoline Alley. At noon, children of Indy Racing drivers will compete in Mini-Indy 500 battery operated cars in the Bombardier Pagoda Plaza, and a local celebrity and media pit stop competition will take place at 1:30 p.m. on pit lane in front of the Media Center, just south of the start/finish line. Three thousand fans will receive a free IRL hat. Tickets are $5 and available at the gate, any Marsh location or by calling the 500 Festival office at (800) 638-4296.

Carb Day May 27
Miller Lite Carb Day on Thursday, May 27 is the last practice session before the 88th Indianapolis 500. Practice takes place at 11 a.m. (EST), followed by the Checkers/Rally's Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge at 1:30 p.m. Grammy Award-winning artists Blues Traveler will headline the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the Pagoda Plaza, directly behind the Bombardier Pagoda. IndyCar Series driver Kenny Brack and his band, Kenny Brack and the Subwoofers, will open for Blues Traveler. Several vintage race cars from the collection of the Hall of Fame Museum also will take laps on Miller Lite Carb Day.

Tom Brokaw To Honor Heroes
Tom Brokaw, anchor of the "NBC Nightly News," will deliver the keynote address for the 500 Festival's 46th annual Memorial Service, scheduled for 11 a.m. (EST) Friday, May 28 at Monument Circle. In addition to his sterling career in television news, Brokaw is known for his 1998 book, "The Greatest Generation," an account of 1920s-born Americans and their coming of age during the Great Depression, fighting in World War II and the rebuilding of America. Brokaw wrote two additional books on the subject, "The Greatest Generation Speaks," published in 1999, and "An Album of Memories," released in 2001. Indiana Governor Joe Kernan and Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson also will take part in the ceremonies. Admission is free to the public.

Security Measures
The following security guidelines have been established for the month of May for fans entering the Speedway:

• Strict enforcement of rules limiting any coolers carried in to no more than 14 inches wide by 14 inches high.
• All coolers, backpacks and handbags will be subject to security inspection at the gates of the Speedway.
• Additional uniformed officers will be stationed at each gate to monitor inspections.
• A number of other measures will be employed on the grounds to tighten security during the month and on Race Day May 30, but details will not be released. Fans attending on Race Day should plan to arrive as early as possible.

Mayor's Breakfast
The annual Mayor's Breakfast & Queen Coronation, featuring mayors and community leaders from around Indiana, will take place at 10 a.m. (EST) May 22 at the Plaza Pavilion, located in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield directly behind the Bombardier Pagoda. Legendary car owner Roger Penske will deliver the keynote address, while the 2004 500 Festival Queen will be crowned from the field of 33 princesses. Mayor Bart Peterson also will provide remarks. Ticket information is available by calling the 500 Festival to reserve a table at (317) 614-6400 or (800) 638-4296.

FAST FACTS

WHAT: 88th Indianapolis 500, fourth race in 16-race 2004 IRL IndyCar( Series season.

WHERE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2.5-mile asphalt oval

WHEN: 11 a.m. (EST), Sunday, May 30

DISTANCE: 200 laps/500 miles

CARS: Dallara and Panoz G Force chassis; Chevrolet Indy V8, Honda Indy V8 and Toyota Indy V8 engines; Firestone tires

2003 RACE WINNER: Gil de Ferran

2003 SERIES CHAMPION: Scott Dixon

ON TELEVISION:
(Pre-Race) ABC (live), 11 a.m. (EDT), May 30
(Race) ABC (live), noon (EDT), May 30

Host: Terry Gannon
Announcers: Paul Page, Scott Goodyear, Jack Arute
Pit reporters: Jamie Little, Gary Gerould, Todd Harris, Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch.
(Punch will play host to ESPN/ESPN2's coverage of qualifying and will be joined by analyst Gil de Ferran. John Kernan will play host to ESPN2's daily "SportsCenter at Indy" program

MBNA Pole Qualifying, May 15
ESPN (live), noon-1 p.m. (EDT)
ABC (live), 1-3 p.m. (EDT)
ESPN (live), 5-7 p.m. (EDT)

Second Day of Qualifying, May 16
ESPN2 (live), 1-4 p.m., 6-7 p.m. (EDT)

Bump Day Qualifying, May 23
ESPN (live), 1-4 p.m. (EDT)
ABC (live), 4-6 p.m. (EDT)
ESPN2 (live), 6-7 p.m. (EDT)

Miller Lite Carb Day practice and Pit Stop Challenge, May 27
ESPN2 (tape), 3:30-6 p.m. (EDT)

Indy 500 special, May 29
ESPN (tape), 5-6 p.m. (EDT)

500 Festival Parade, May 29
ESPN2 (tape), 6-7:30 p.m. (EDT)

Indy 500 Celebration Banquet, May 31
WISH-TV (Channel 8 Indianapolis)(live), 8:30-10:30 p.m. (local time)

"SportsCenter at Indy"
ESPN2 (Live from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway) 6:30-7 p.m. (EDT) May 10-14, 17-21, 24-28

ON RADIO:
RADIO (all broadcasts except hourly qualifying updates will be available at indyracing.com, indy500.com):
(Pre-Race) IMS Radio Network (live), 11 a.m. (EDT), May 30

(Race) IMS Radio Network (live), Noon (EDT) May 30
Area affiliate: WIBC-AM 1070, Indianapolis
Anchor: Mike King; Analyst: Chris Economaki; Color Commentator: Dave Wilson; Historian: Donald Davidson; Turn 1 reporter: Jerry Baker; Turn 2: Adam Alexander; Turn 3: Mark Jaynes; Turn 4: Chris Denari; Pit reporters: Dave Argabright, Kevin Lee, Kim Morris, Jim Murphy.

(Indy 500 Preview Show, May 9) IMS Radio Network 6-7 p.m. (EDT) Anchor: Mike King

(MBNA Pole Qualifying, May 15) IMS Radio Network
"Indy AM" (live), Noon-2 p.m. (EDT)
"Indy PM" (live), 6-7 p.m. (EDT)
Pole Day qualifying updates at ":15" and ":45" past the hour from 2:15-7:15 p.m. (EDT)
Anchor: Mike King

(Second Day Qualifying, May 16) IMS Radio Network
"Indy AM" (live), 1-2 p.m. (EDT)
"Indy PM" (live), 6-7 p.m. (EDT)
Qualifying updates at ":15" and ":45" past the hour from 2:15-7:15 p.m. (EDT)
Anchor: Mike King

(Bump Day Qualifying, May 23) IMS Radio Network
"Indy AM" (live), 1-2 p.m. (EDT)
"Indy PM" (live), 6-7 p.m. (EDT)
Bump Day qualifying updates at ":15" and ":45" past the hour from 2:15-7:15 p.m. (EDT)
Anchor: Mike King

(Carb Day Recap, May 27) IMS Radio Network 9-10 p.m. (EDT)
Anchor: Mike King

("Indy Live" Talk Show, May 11, 13, 20, 25) IMS Radio Network 9-10 p.m. (EDT)
Anchor: Mike King

SCHEDULE (All times local; subject to change):

Sunday, May 9 (Indianapolis Star Opening Day) - $5 admission; 12 and under free 9 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 11 a.m.-noon
IndyCar Series driver autograph session 1-6 p.m.
IndyCar Series practice Monday, May 10-Thursday, May 13 - $5 admission; 5 and under free 9 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
IndyCar Series practice Friday, May 14 (Fast Friday) - $5 admission; 5 and under free 8 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
IndyCar Series practice Saturday, May 15 (Pole Day) - $10 admission; 5 and under free 7 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 9-10 a.m.
IndyCar Series practice 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

MBNA Pole Qualifying

Sunday, May 16 (Marsh Family Day Armed Forces Day qualifying) - $10 admission; 5 and under free 8 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 10-11:15 a.m.
IndyCar Series practice Noon-6 p.m.

Qualifications

Monday, May 17-Tuesday, May 18 - No track activity
Wednesday, May 19 - $5 admission; 5 and under free 9 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

IndyCar Series practice

Thursday, May 20 - $5 admission; 5 and under free 9 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 10:30 a.m.-noon
Menards Infiniti Pro Series practice Noon-6 p.m.

IndyCar Series practice

Friday, May 21 - $5 admission; 5 and under free 9 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 9-10 a.m.
Menards Infiniti Pro Series practice 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

IndyCar Series practice 12:45-2 p.m.
Menards Infiniti Pro Series qualifications 2:15-5:15 p.m.
IndyCar Series practice 5:30-5:45 p.m.
Menards Infiniti Pro Series final practice Saturday, May 22 - $5 admission; 5 and under free 8 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 10 a.m.-noon
IndyCar Series practice 1 p.m.
Futaba Freedom 100 Infiniti Pro Series race (40 laps/100 miles) 2:30-6 p.m.
IndyCar Series practice Sunday, May 23 (Bump Day) - $10 admission; 5 and under free 8 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 10-11:15 a.m.
IndyCar Series practice Noon-6 p.m.

Qualifications

Monday, May 24-Tuesday, May 25 - No track activity
Wednesday, May 26 (500 Festival Community Day) - $5 admission; 5 and under free 11 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Public track lap 2-6 p.m.

Garages open 3-6 p.m.
Garage tours/driver autographs Thursday, May 27 (Miller Lite Carb Day) - $10 admission; 5 and under free 8 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
IndyCar Series final practice 1:30 p.m.
Checkers/Rally's Indy 500 Pit Stop Challege 3:30 p.m.

Carb Day Concert

Friday, May 28 - No track activity
Saturday, May 29 - No track activity 9 a.m.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates open 9-10 a.m.
IndyCar Series driver autograph session 11 a.m.

Public drivers meeting (Tower Terrace)

Sunday, May 30 (88th Indianapolis 500) - Reserved seats available; General admission $20 5 a.m.
Military bomb signals opening of Indianapolis Motor Speedway public gates 11 a.m.
Start, 88th Indianapolis 500 (200 laps/500 miles) ABC (live)

THE TRACK:

2.5-mile paved oval
Frontstretch and backstretch: 5/8-mile
Turns: 1/4-mile
Short chutes: 1/8-mile
Width: 50 feet on the straightaways; 60 feet in the turns.
Banking: Turns are banked at 9 degrees, 12 minutes.
(The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built in 1909 and is the international leader in motorsports entertainment. Home since 1911 to the Indianapolis 500, the world's largest single-day sporting event, the Speedway also plays host to the Brickyard 400 NASCAR race and the United States Grand Prix Formula One race, two of the largest single-day sporting events in the world. In addition to more than 250,000 permanent seats, the Speedway property includes the Hall of Fame Museum, the Brickyard Crossing 18-hole championship golf course and the Brickyard Crossing Inn.

2004 INDYCAR SERIES STATISTICS

Driver Points

1. Dan Wheldon 123
2. Tony Kanaan 117
3. Helio Castroneves 106
4. Darren Manning 90
5. Scott Dixon 82


Entrant Points

1. Andretti Green Racing #26 123
2. Andretti Green Racing #11 117
3. Marlboro Team Penske #3 106
4. Target Chip Ganassi Racing #10 90
5. Target Chip Ganassi Racing #1 82

Manufacturers' Points

Engine

1. Honda 27
2. Toyota 24
3. Chevrolet 15

Chassis

1. Dallara 30
2. Panoz G Force 21

Money Leaders

1. Dan Wheldon $343,550
2. Tony Kanaan $300,750
3. Helio Castroneves $265,600
4. Scott Dixon $204,450
5. Sam Hornish Jr. $202,300

Wins

1.  Sam Hornish Jr. 1
    Tony Kanaan 1
    Dan Wheldon 1

MBNA Poles

1. Dan Wheldon 2
2. Buddy Rice 1

Laps Led

1. Dan Wheldon 192
2. Tony Kanaan 191
3. Helio Castroneves 89
4. Buddy Rice 49
5. Tomas Scheckter 23