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Rookie Orientation Program: A Perfect Class…Except?

SPEEDWAY, IN: Former Firestone Indy Lites Champion Jaime Camara found
success at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday, when he successfully
completed his rookie test. Today, a hard crash in Turn 1 put the
former Firestone Indy Lites champion back to square one again.

The Goiania, Brazil native had just turned his best speed of 218.264
MPH when his Sangari/Conquest Racing Dallara broke loose in the middle of
Indy’s treacherous first turn and pounded the SAFER barrier with the
right rear corner. Camara was helped from his broken car and walked to
the ambulance, complaining of some soreness in his back. When he is
reevaluated Tuesday morning, hopefully the report from Methodist hospital
will be positive.

Last years Race winner Dario Franchitti returned to the Speedway
today…but only for an interview session with the media. Dario said that he
hoped to be recovered from his broken ankle in time to compete in the
Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte in a few weeks.

During his interview, Franchitti claimed that Indy was “the most
difficult track I’ve ever driven. The Champ Car drivers and teams are about
to find that out for themselves.”

When asked how he felt about his former teammate Danica Patrick’s
victory in Japan, Dario remarked,” I loved it. I won a $400 bet from Chip
Ganassi, and enjoyed spending every penny of it!”

As the 2008 Rookie Orientation Program came to a close, 12 new drivers
had completed their tests, and have earned the right to attempt to
qualify for the 92nd Indy 500. It’s the Speedway largest freshman class
since 1997.

Tomorrow, business will really pick up as the track becomes available
to all entrants. The May weather in Central Indiana, always a big part
of the Speedway story, sounds good into the middle of the week. Behond
that, as always, is a bit of a crap-shoot.

Today’s top speeds:

Pos Driver Diff Total Laps Best Time Best Speed
1 Alex Lloyd (16) … 51 40.3528 223.033
2 Hideki Mutoh (27) 0.0785 35 40.4313 222.6
3 Will Power (8) 0.139 61 40.4918 222.267
4 Oriol Servia (5) 0.1715 52 40.5243 222.089
5 Graham Rahal (06) 0.3426 45 40.6954 221.155
6 Justin Wilson (02) 0.3659 34 40.7187 221.029
7 Ryan Hunter-Reay (17T) 0.4009 59 40.7537 220.839
8 Enrique Bernoldi (36T) 0.4979 48 40.8507 220.314
9 Bruno Junqueira (18) 0.5027 26 40.8555 220.289
10 Davey Hamilton (22) 0.5748 38 40.9276 219.901
11 EJ Viso (33) 0.6387 33 40.9915 219.558
12 Max Papis (44) 0.7242 22 41.077 219.101
13 Jaime Camara (34) 0.8817 4 41.2345 218.264
14 Mario Moraes (19) 1.3881 68 41.7409 215.616
15 Jay Howard (24T) 1.5862 31 41.939 214.597
16 Mario Dominguez (96) 1.633 48 41.9858 214.358

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