Buddy Rice

1999 Indianapolis 500 winner Kenny Brack will replace injured 2004 Indianapolis 500 champion Buddy Rice in the 89th edition of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing," Rahal Letterman Racing officials announced May 18.

In other driver news, rookie Arie Luyendyk Jr. was named as the driver of the CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports entry, and veteran Jimmy Kite was named to replace injured rookie Paul Dana in the Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing entry.

Brack will attempt to qualify the No. 15 Rahal Letterman Racing Argent Pioneer Panoz/Honda/Firestone on Third Day Qualifying, Saturday, May 21 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to earn one of the 11 remaining spots for the race May 29.

Rice suffered a concussion and back contusions in a single-car crash in Turn 2 on May 11 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice. Five days later, he was not cleared to drive by Dr. Henry Bock, senior director of medical services for the Indy Racing League and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Further evaluation of Rice discovered a partially torn spinal ligament in his mid- to lower neck that is essential to maintaining the alignment of the spine. Doctors have recommended rest and rehabilitation and Rice will be reassessed in about three weeks.

This will be Brack's first Indianapolis 500 start and first IndyCar Series start since 2003. He suffered multiple injuries during the season-ending event in October 2003 at Texas Motor Speedway.

"For me, I feel ready," said Brack, who tested a Rahal Letterman Racing car at Richmond International Raceway last June. "But, you know, to come into this situation like this is obviously a little more challenging than being around for the whole month. But I felt that knowing the team and knowing the players here and we've done great things together, it's a lot easier.

"I've been working out very hard. I'm back to the same physical condition as I was before the crash because I have been basically pounding myself in the gym ever since I got out of the hospital."

Brack wasted little time shaking off any rust during practice Wednesday, as he turned a speed of 220.482 on just his fifth lap on track. He later raised that speed to 225.005 mph during the first hour of practice.

"As a driver, you know what it means - you dream of winning this race, let alone winning it again or repeating it," team co-owner Bobby Rahal said. "I know Buddy's extremely disappointed, and we're disappointed for him. However, we had to go forward.

"I just thought it's somehow right that I called my friend Mr. Brack and asked if he'd be ready to fill in. The obvious sign is that he was ready to fill in. We're very anxious and excited to have Kenny back driving our car. I think that was one of the key factors - we wanted to have someone come in who would be as competitive as Buddy, who had experience with our team before and who we felt would work with the other two drivers in making sure we had three equally competitive cars come Race Day."

Courtesy IMS PR