The Callahan Report from Indianapolis, May 17

17 May 1997

INDIANAPOLIS: After a flurry of activity just as the track opened for qualifications, the remainder of the day was a scavenger hunt. The teams that without speed are looking for it. All afternoon, Claude Bourbonnaise and Scott Harrington toured the speedway. Bourbonnais seemed to have been successful in his search, until he crashed late in the day (see story below). He made a lap of 210 mph. Harrington is still searching in his "down on power" Infiniti.

Greg Ray and Johnny Unser are the only other drivers that seem to have a chance. They have already practiced at good speeds, but both had engine woes this morning. Those teams were in the garage area working all afternoon. Ray brought out his 97 car late in the day. The team has only one engine remaining. The team has installed the race engine for qualifying. Ray was shaking the car down as the track prepared to close for the day.

By day's end, eight cars had qualified for the race. Twenty-one cars qualified last weekend. Thirty-one of the available thirty-three starting positions are filled.

There were a total of 17 cars practicing, taking advantage of the sunny and calm conditions. The final chance to get into the Indianapolis 500 is tomorrow. Qualifications will resume at 12:00 local time.

Bourbonnais Crashes At Speedway

INDIANAPOLIS (5:40 PM): After turning a lap of 210 mph, Claude Bourbonnais tagged the wall with the rear of his number 72 Blueprint Racing car. He got high in the marbles coming out of turn two and hit the wall with the left rear of the car. There was rear suspension, sidepod and rear wing damage. Bourbonnais drove the car back to the pits dragging the right rear wheel. He was uninjured.

Bourbonnais was expected to qualify the car for the 81st Indy 500 in the final minutes of qualifying today.

Field Filling Up

INDIANAPOLIS: The field for the 81st Indy 500 is filling up fast. Twenty-three cars qualified during the first two days of time trials last weekend. Today, eight more cars qualified in less than an hour and a half. Two spots remain open for "The Greatest Spectacle In Racing".

Billy Boat, driving the Conseco car for A.J. Foyt was the first qualifier of the day. Conseco, based in Indianapolis, finally has its name in the field. After the team lost three cars in crashes since practice began, Boat put the familiar blue and white color scheme into the show with a four lap average of 215.544 mph. It was the fastest of the eight qualifiers.

Billy Boat....Fastest run of the day.

Another team with some tough luck is Tobacco Free Kids/Kick Ash Racing. The driver is Greg Ray. He was the first driver out making a qualifying attempt today. Ray blew an engine delaying his chances of getting into the race. Ray has one of the faster cars at the Speedway. His car was fast last weekend. He ran 215 mph for three laps before ran out of fuel on his first qualifying attempt. He matched that speed again yesterday in practice.

There were hugs abound in the pits as the flurry of qualifying activity continued. Watching the emotions just shows what this race means to the teams. Billy Roe, Tyce Carlson, Mark Dismore, Fermin Velez, Dennis Vitolo, Sam Schmidt, and Marco Greco were the other drivers making the field during today's qualifying.

The track opened for practice at 12:30. Scott Harrington has not qualified but is practicing this afternoon. Greg Ray is expected to make a qualifying attempt....again....later today or early tomorrow. The third Blueprint Racing car, driven by Claude Bourbonnais, is also practicing and has good speed. The field may be full by the end of the day.

Early Morning Report Qualifying, Day Three

INDIANAPOLIS: For the drivers that will qualify for the Indianapolis 500 today, one word describes the their most admirable trait. Passion. This is the third day of qualifying for the great race. Most of the drivers that have not qualified have not had much practice time. Some of them just put deals together this week. Their lifelong desire can be realized today. To be in the world's most prestigious auto race.

The drivers qualifying today are low on funds and machinery. The anxiety of the past week has been almost unbearable. There have been many twenty hour work days. Through all this, they are always smiling. This is Indianapolis. They are about to become a part of the history of the longest running motorsports event in the world.

One such man is Billy Roe. He is popular, funny, and fast. Roe has practiced at 212 mph this week. If he can do four laps today at that speed, he will be safely in the field.

He held a United States Auto Club (USAC) chief mechanics license for four years. He has worked for more Indy Style racing teams than there are raindrops in May at Indianapolis. The 40 year old mechanic turned driver has turned wrenches for Clint Brawner, A.J. Foyt, Mike Curb, Sanette, Provimi, and GTS.

Billy Roe

After running karts for a time, Roe started his own big time racing career in 1991. He raced in the Atlantic series. He ran Atlantic races every year and passed his IRL driver's test at Phoenix in 1996. He made his first IRL start at Phoenix earlier this year.

Billy Roe has a passion for this famed speedway. Today, that passion and hard work could result in his name becoming a part of the record books.

The track will be open for qualifications at 11:00 AM this morning.

O'Connell Update:

Johnny O'Connell, who crashed hard in turn one yesterday, had surgery performed by Dr. Dean Marr at Methodist hospital yesterday. The operation to repair his dislocated left arch was successful. O'Connell will remain in the hospital for two to three days. He will be required to wear a cast from 6 to 8 weeks.

Terry Callahan -- The Auto Channel