---

IRL, Indy 500: Ray, Luyendyk Keep Stronghold on Practice Speed Chart

18 May 1999

INDIANAPOLIS-- Greg Ray and Arie Luyendyk were 1-2 atop the speed chart for the second consecutive practice day for the 83rd Indianapolis 500 on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with Ray setting the pace at 225.124 mph in the primary Glidden-Menards Dallara/Aurora/Firestone.

Luyendyk was No. 2 at 224.674 in the Sprint PCS-Meijer G Force/Aurora/Firestone. Ray and Luyendyk were 1-2, respectively, on Opening Day Saturday at 225.887 and 225.163.

"Today it was just windier," Ray said. "The air was thicker, more humid. We had to keep changing the setup to go quick." Ray, from Plano, Texas, also was third fastest in his backup car at 224.411.

Practice resumes from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday. Pole Day is May 22; Race Day May 30.

Pep Boys Indy Racing League points leader Scott Goodyear was fourth fastest at 222.750 in the backup Pennzoil Panther G Force/Aurora/Goodyear. 1998 Pep boys Indy Racing League champion Kenny Brack and Kelley Racing driver Scott Sharp tied for fifth fastest at 222.288.

Defending race champion Eddie Cheever Jr. was 10th fastest at 221.413 in the Team Cheever-The Children's Beverage Group-Dallara Dallara/Infiniti/Goodyear.

1996-97 Pep Boys Indy Racing League champion Tony Stewart took his first practice lap for the 83rd Indianapolis 500 in the #22 The Home Depot Dallara/Aurora/Goodyear. Stewart rounded out the day seventh fastest at 222.091.

Billy Boat was unhurt when he made heavy contact with the Turn 1 wall just 35 minutes into practice in the A.J. Foyt Racing Dallara/Aurora/Goodyear. Boat climbed from his car without assistance after the first accident of the event.

Thirty-three drivers in 40 cars combined to complete 1,738 laps. Nine Pep Boys Indy Racing League drivers joined Special Olympians at the 19th annual "Save Arnold" barbecue. Mari Hulman George, chairman of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, announced that $55,000 was raised today for the Special Olympics of Indiana, bringing the total for the last 19 years to $1,000,456.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rodger Ward took a ceremonial lap in the Leader Card-Watson roadster that he drove to victory in 1959 and 1962 to begin the Indy Racing Legends Week.

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.