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Indy 500 Practice – Tuesday

Four rookies passed the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program as preparations began at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 2009 Indianapolis 500. The track was open for six rookies to participate in ROP. Three veterans were allowed to complete “refresher” laps.

Mike Conway, Robert Doornbos, Raphael Matos and Alex Tagliani completed all four phases of ROP, demonstrating consistent driving through four speed ranges beginning at 200 mph and increasing in 5 mph increments.

Paul Tracy, a veteran of five Indianapolis 500s who made his last start in 2002, turned the fastest lap of the day at 40.3426 seconds, 223.089 mph around the historic 2.5-mile oval. Thirteen-time starter Scott Sharp had the second-fastest lap at 221.878 mph.

Tracy is happy to be able to take benefit of all the track time he can get, “We took advantage of today, with the refresher course. There’s rain in the forecast the next couple days possibly – the weather can change here at any time, so I’m pretty happy with where we’re at right now.”

(About fan reaction): “They either love me or hate me. I have a polarizing effect on people. But there was a lot of fan support today, a lot of well-wishes, a couple birds, but in general it was 98 percent to the good, so I was happy about that.”

(About motivation to come back): “I just want to race. It’s all I’ve ever done. I’ve been racing since I was 6 years old, and I didn’t want my career to just come to an abrupt stop after racing Indy cars for 16 or 17 years. When the merge happened, my team owner decided to stop, and when the music stopped, it kind of left me without any seats to sit in. It’s been very frustrating thinking after all this time my career’s just going to end like that. That’s not the way I wanted it to end. I realize I’m not going to race another 10 years, but I’d like to run a couple more years. I feel I’m competitive. I feel I’ve got the drive. And hopefully something will open up. I know I’m not going to run forever, but I want to have a couple more years and have a shot at it and have something for my fans to remember.”

Top Speeds clocked in for Tuesday.

1. (15) Paul Tracy, Dallara-Honda, 223.089
2. (16) Scott Sharp, Dallara-Honda, 221.878
3. (06) Robert Doornbos, Dallara-Honda, 221.735
4. (2) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 218.613
5. (34) Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda, 218.333
6. (24) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 217.063
7. (00) Nelson Phillippe, Dallara-Honda, 214.786
8. (99) Alex Lloyd, Dallara-Honda, 213.032
9. (98) Stanton Barrett, Dallara-Honda, 207.522

Rookie Nelson Philippe completed the first three phases of ROP, while Stanton Barrett completed two. An additional ROP session is scheduled for Wednesday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. before the track opens for all drivers.

Popular Danica Patrick was asked about being the ‘new’ kinder, gentler Danica Patrick. The first race you were trying not to be mad all weekend, then (Raphael) Matos took you into the boards at St. Petersburg, you didn’t smack him like we thought you might. Where is that all coming from?

The forthright Patrick responded, “Is it OK, do you think? I hope I’m not boring anybody (laughter). She continued, “I’ve learned from the past. Look, the emotional Danica is still there, but there’s a time and a place. The time and place is not every weekend. So it’s just easier. I think I always felt in the past like I had to prove to people that I cared and that I wasn’t happy being fifth or 12th or something by being mad. It just doesn’t really pay off, and it turns people off. It’s a lot easier and a lot more fun to be relaxed. It’s all bunnies and rainbows around here.

The Firestone Indy Lights Series held an open test at the Brickyard on Tuesday. Rookie, Sebastian Saavedra topped the speed chart. Saavedra, who won the April 26 race at Kansas Speedway, turned a best lap of 47.0520 seconds, 191.278 mph. 2006 race winner Wade Cunningham was second at 190.969 mph, Martin Plowman was third and J.R. Hildebrand was fourth.

In other Firestone Indy Lights news, medical update from Dr. Michael Olinger, director of medical services for the Indy Racing League: driver Dillon Battistini was re-evaluated at the Clarian Medical Center and has been cleared to drive. He had been hospitalized one night for precautionary reasons at the KU Medical Center following a crash during the Kansas Lottery 100 April 26 at Kansas Speedway.

J.R. Hildebrand, driver of the No. 26 Andretti Green Racing/AFS Racing entry, returned to action following his weekend debut in A1GP. Hildebrand competed in the round at Brands Hatch, England, recording a fourth-place finish in the Sprint race and an 11th in the Feature. He had previously participated in three rookie practice sessions for Team USA, but had not competed in a race.

A pair of Indiana natives teamed up for Davey Hamilton/Kingdom Racing for the test. Logan Gomez, a native of Crown Point, Ind., helped the team set up the car for Lafayette, Ind., driver Brandon Wagner, who turned his first laps around the Speedway.

Conquest Racing unveiled the paint scheme on the No. 34 entry that will be driven by Alex Tagliani. The car features associate sponsorship from The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, which is promoting the King Tut exhibition “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” as the focal point of the partnership. The car features King Tut exhibition branding on the engine cover, nose cone and front wings. Additionally, a 25-foot statue of the ancient Egyptian god Anubis will be on display in the outside lot at the Speedway Museum during race week, paving the way for the blockbuster exhibition coming to Indianapolis in June.

“Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” will complete its U.S. debut run in Atlanta in mid-May and will be on display at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum from June 27-Oct. 25. The exhibition is organized by National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities.

The partnership with Conquest includes a show car that will travel to Indiana schools to promote the exhibition and educate the children on this historic collection of 130 artifacts from King Tut’s tomb and other ancient Egyptian sites.

INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY CENTENNIAL ERA FACT OF THE DAY: The first Hall of Fame Museum was built on the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1956. Originally large enough to display only a few cars, a new museum opened in the present location in 1976. The facility encompasses 96,000 square feet of museum, retail and office space. Approximately 75 vehicles are on display at any one time. Admission is just $3 for adults, $1 for ages 6-15 and free for children younger than 6.

Robert Doornbos, driver of the #06 Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Honda/Dallara/Firestone, took the honor of being the first driver on track for the 2009 Indianapolis 500, an honor that sometimes has been hard-fought over the years. The best start by the driver first on track over the last 25 years has been by Raul Boesel, who started second in 1994. The best finish is second, set by Marco Andretti in 2006.

FIRST ON TRACK, 1984 -2008

Year
Driver
Started
Finished

2008
Will Power
23rd
13th

2007
Jaques Lazier
28th
27th

2006
Marco Andretti
9th
2nd

2005
Danica Patrick
4th
4th

2004
Sarah Fisher
19th
24th

2003
Felipe Giaffone
16th
33rd

2002
Billy Boat
23rd
18th

2001
Stephan Gregoire
29th
28th

2000
Stephan Gregoire
20th
7th

1999
Stephan Gregoire
Did Not Qualify

1998
Mike Groff
32nd
15th

1997
Dr. Jack Miller
17th
20th

1996
Michele Alboreto
12th
30th

1995
Eliseo Salazar
24th
4th

1994
Raul Boesel
2nd
21st

1993
Jimmy Vasser
19th
13th

1992
Scott Brayton
7th
22nd

1991
Scott Brayton
19th
17th

1990
Tero Palmroth
16th
12th

1989
Arie Luyendyk
15th
21st

1988
Raul Boesel
7th
20th

1987
Ludwig Heimrath Jr.
10th
30th

1986
Chip Ganassi
26th
25th

1985
Dick Simon
26th
14th

1984
Dick Simon
20th
23rd

Firestone has brought 4,900 tires to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Month of May. Full-month participants receive 35 sets of tires per car. Second-week entrants receive 24 sets. Rookies receive an additional four sets for ROP, and cars participating in the refresher test receive two additional sets.

Firestone is bringing a new tire specification following a successful tire test at Indianapolis in September 2008. The new spec features improved compounds for all four positions and a slight change to the right-front tire body construction to aid in reducing understeer.

One tire stagger of approximately 0.32 of an inch is available for Indianapolis. Stagger helps IndyCar Series cars turn more smoothly on oval tracks and is created by producing the right-rear tire with a slightly larger diameter than the left rear. AL SPEYER (Executive Director, Firestone Racing): “The racing world will focus on this palace of motorsports for the next three weeks, and with good reason. From rookie orientation through four grueling days of qualifying, to Carburetion Day practice and the great race itself, the Indianapolis 500 is like no other. The traditions, the emotions and the unexpected combine to make Indy the transcending event it has become – and Firestone is proud to play a part. We’ll be honored come May 24 to crown the 60th Indianapolis 500 champion on Firestone tires, which is more than all other tire manufacturers put together. To reach that life-changing moment, all the Indy drivers this month will compete on a new Firehawk tire specification. The Firestone Racing engineers and chemists have fine-tuned the tire spec that performed so well and without issue the past two years on this demanding racetrack. We anticipate the newest generation Firehawks will continue that trusted tradition by giving all Indy drivers the reliable durability, consistency and top speeds they have come to expect from their Firestone tires.”

Nelson Philippe will be driving the No. 00 i-drive green HVM Racing-prepared car for the Month of May. Philippe said his brother, Richard, won “a lot of races” with the number, “so hopefully it will be a good number for me, too.”

That would be a first; no car No. 00 has won the 500 Mile Race or started from the pole. There are now three cars in 2009 starting with 0 – 02 of Graham Rahal and 06 of Robert Doornbos, both driving for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing. Why 00? Philippe, “We’re raising awareness of the need to reduce our carbon footprint, and 00 stands for zero emissions. I didn’t want to be tied to any number, so now I have no numbers.”

Graham Rahal unveiled the unique helmet that he will be wearing throughout the Month of May and in the Indianapolis 500. The special one-off edition helmet is designed to pay tribute to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the celebration of its Centennial Era as well as the 1986 Indianapolis 500 victory by Graham’s father, Bobby. The helmet incorporates the Speedway’s Centennial Era logo and an image of Bobby Rahal with the coveted Borg Warner trophy.

The colors chosen and mixed for this helmet give the helmet a vintage look with a modern twist by using different tints of gray, silver, beige, white and red. Just like every one of Graham’s Artrotondo.com painted helmets, this helmet was painted using environmentally friendly paints that contain no toxic contents. The Centennial logos and the image of Bobby Rahal were entirely free hand drawn and colored by motorsport artist Art Rotondo before being placed on the helmet.

RAHAL, “The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a race car driver’s cathedral, and the Indy 500 is the biggest race of the year. I wanted to do something cool to honor the history of the Speedway and my dad’s win in 1986. I think we really hit on it with this helmet design.”

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