2006 Indy 500 Practice No. 5

Race Date 5-28-06 * Indianapolis Motor Speedway

 
CAR  DRIVER                  CHASSIS-ENGINE/SPEED   

 1.   6 Sam Hornish Jr.,      Dallara-Honda, 224.381 
 2.  3T Helio Castroneves,    Dallara-Honda, 223.392 
 3.   8 Scott Sharp,          Dallara-Honda, 223.293 
 4. 15T Buddy Rice,           Panoz-Honda,   222.895 
 5. 10T Dan Wheldon,          Dallara-Honda, 222.615 
 6.  90 Townsend Bell,        Dallara-Honda, 222.511 
 7.  11 Tony Kanaan,          Dallara-Honda, 222.488 
 8.  9T Scott Dixon,          Dallara-Honda, 222.227 
 9.  27 Dario Franchitti,     Dallara-Honda, 222.084 
10.   2 Tomas Scheckter,      Dallara-Honda, 221.815 
11.  17 Jeff Simmons,         Panoz-Honda,   221.802 
12.  4T Vitor Meira,          Dallara-Honda, 221.536 
13.  20 Ed Carpenter,         Dallara-Honda, 221.505 
14.  51 Eddie Cheever Jr.,    Dallara-Honda, 221.422 
15. 55T Kosuke Matsuura,      Dallara-Honda, 221.226 
16.   7 Bryan Herta,          Dallara-Honda, 220.835 
17.   1 Michael Andretti,     Dallara-Honda, 220.822 
18.  26 Marco Andretti,       Dallara-Honda, 220.470 
19.  14 Felipe Giaffone,      Dallara-Honda, 220.347 
20. 16T Danica Patrick,       Panoz-Honda,   219.526 
21.  21 Jaques Lazier,        Panoz-Honda,   218.655 
22.  92 Jeff Bucknum,         Dallara-Honda, 218.438 
23.  41 Larry Foyt,           Dallara-Honda, 217.591 
24.  18 Thiago Medeiros,      Panoz-Honda,   216.724 
25.  25 Marty Roth,           Dallara-Honda, 215.823 
26.   5 Buddy Lazier,         Dallara-Honda, 215.790 
27.  97 Stephan Gregoire,     Panoz-Honda,   215.330 
28.  61 Arie Luyendyk Jr.,    Panoz-Honda,   215.306 
29.  31 Al Unser Jr.,         Dallara-Honda, 214.205 
30.  88 Airton Dare,          Panoz-Honda,   210.064 
31.  12 Jon Herb,             Panoz-Honda,   204.824 


Legend: Chassis: D=Dallara, P=Panoz. Engine: H=Honda.

Marlboro Team Penske driver Sam Hornish Jr. topped the speed charts again as preparations continued for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500. Hornish, who didn't arrive at the Speedway until mid-afternoon after attending his grandmonther's funeral, posted the day's quickest lap of 40.1104 seconds, 224.381 mph in his No. 6 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Honda/Firestone. Hornish's lap was slightly faster than his teammate, Helio Castroneves, who was second-fastest at 223.392 mph in his backup car. Scott Sharp (223.293 mph) was third with the last two Indianapolis 500 winners, Buddy Rice (222.895) and Dan Wheldon (222.615 mph), rounding out the top five. It was the busiest day of the month as 31 drivers completed 1,496 laps before a brief afternoon thunderstorm ended the session 90 minutes early.

On this date in 1976, Janet Guthrie passed her Indianapolis 500 rookie test. On this day in 1992, 10 former 500 winners qualified for the field for the 76th Running of the Indianapolis 500, the most in the history of the 500 Mile Race.

In celebration of the 90th Running of the Indianapolis 500, various personalities associated with "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" will give their favorite "500" memories. Here's today's memory: TIM CINDRIC (President, Penske Performance, Inc./native of Indianapolis): "My father tried to win the race all his life, and after 2001 I felt like I left there a made man. The thing that made it even more unique was that it was the first time Roger was back since missing the race in '95. There was the pressure of that, and then to do something at Indianapolis that Roger had never done before which was finishing 1-2. For me to be part of that was something cool."

Did you know?: In 1935, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway became the first track in the world to install safety warning lights and the 1935 race was the first event to make helmets mandatory in motor racing.

Ethanol will present $2,500 to the driver who records the fastest lap on five practice days during the Month of May. The "Ethanol Fastest Lap" will be presented May 10, 11, 17, 18 and 26. In addition to the ethanol awards, Cholula Hot Sauce will award $15,000 to the driver who completes the Fastest Lap of the Day on May 19.

Date Driver Speed May 10 Sam Hornish Jr. 226.056 mph May 11 Sam Hornish Jr. 226.789 mph

Larry Foyt, who will attempt to make his third start in the Indianapolis 500, will be testing a Dallara chassis today. Foyt began his month May 8 when he took his refresher test in the A.J. Foyt Racing Honda-powered Panoz. Team owner A.J. Foyt said he will determine which car his son will drive in the 500 by Friday.

LARRY FOYT.. (No. 41 A.J. Foyt Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone): "The Panoz is a great car and I felt very comfortable in it, but it appears the Dallaras are faster this year."

Cody Unser wants everyone to stand on the gas. The daughter of two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr. and granddaughter of four-time winner Al Unser gave that message to approximately 250 people who attended the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary's first annual Spring Luncheon Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis. Cody's father and grandfather were in attendance at the luncheon, where she received a key to the city from emcee Bob Jenkins on behalf of Mayor Bart Peterson. Unser, 19, hasn't let being paralyzed since the age of 12 stop her from living an active and successful life. She suffers from transverse myelitis, a neurological syndrome caused by spinal cord inflammation. She has not let this get in the way of her achieving her goals such as scuba diving, attending college, and helping not-for-profit groups like her own Cody Unser First Step Foundation and the Salvation Army.

CODY UNSER.. "Humor is the best medicine. In racing they have a saying that you should 'Stand on the gas!' We should all stand on the gas in life too and live it to the fullest every day. Even though my body is paralyzed, my voice is not. Remind yourself that it's all good."

Indiana Pacers guard Eddie Gill, who will serve as today's honorary starter, rode in the Indy Racing Experience 2-seater today.

EDDIE GILL.. (Indiana Pacers): "It was amazing, simply amazing. The corners are what really get you. Going into those corners, as close as you are to the wall, I can't imagine being out there with 20 other cars, they're all on top of you, it must be crazy." (Do you think you're going to give up basketball for driving?): "No, not at all. I'll stick to (Interstate) 465."

To celebrate the month of May, Best Buddies Indiana is teaming up with two-time IndyCar Series champion Panther Racing on May 25 for an exclusive pre-Carb Day event on May 25 that will benefit Best Buddies Indiana. The exclusive event, scheduled from 6-8 p.m., will include a behind-the-scenes tour of the 35,000 square-foot Panther Racing facility, silent auction items, door prizes, entertainment, hors d'oeuvres and a dessert buffet. Racing exhibitors, include Honda, Firestone and Delphi. Panther's driver, Vitor Meira, who looks to improve upon last season's second place finish in the Indianapolis 500, along with the Panther Pack and team owners will be available for meet and greets. Each guest will also receive an exclusive duffel gift bag. Adult tickets are $50 and child tickets are $20. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Sarah Baldini at (317) 920-8683 or sarahbaldini@bestbuddies.org.

Rahal Letterman Racing announced May 16 that it has entered into a multi-year partnership with Roper Whitney of Rockford, Ill. as the team's Official Supplier of Sheet Metal Fabricating tools.

BOBBY RAHAL.. (Co-owner, Rahal Letterman Racing): "We are pleased to begin this partnership with Roper Whitney. Roper Whitney has been an industry leader in sheet metal fabrication for nearly a century. These are the kind of like-minded partners that we seek here at Rahal Letterman Racing."