1996 Indianapolis 500 Daily Trackside Report

DAY 7 -- FRIDAY, MAY 10

At 11:05 a.m., Scott Brayton in the #2 Glidden Menards Special turned a lap at 235.270 miles per hour, fastest of the day at that point only five minutes into practice. At 11:19 a.m., #2 Brayton upped it to 235.688. At 11:32 a.m., Tony Stewart in the #20 Menards/Glidden/Quaker State Special reached 236.004, fastest of the day at that point. At 11:50 a.m., Arie Luyendyk in the #35 Treadway Racing entry reached 236.992, fastest of the day at that point. At 12:07 p.m., Scott Sharp in the #11 Conseco AJ Foyt Racing entry, reached 235.300, third fastest of the day, and followed it up with 235.701 at 12:28 p.m., still third fastest. At 12:29 p.m., #35 Luyendyk reached 238.045, fastest practice lap in Speedway history at that point. At 1:04 p.m., #35 Luyendyk reached 239.260, fastest practice lap in Speedway history. The track closed at 3:25 p.m. because of rain.

By 1:15 p.m., 13 drivers and 13 cars had exceeded 230 miles per hour in practice today. On "Fast Friday" of 1995 (May 12), 13 drivers and 16 cars exceeded 230 miles per hour in practice, both track records.

ABC Sports announced today that the network's longstanding broadcasting relationship with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway would be extended through 1999. The agreement covers broadcasts for the Indianapolis 500, the related Indy Racing League (IRL) events, and the Brickyard 400 NASCAR Winston Cup stock car event at IMS. The announcement was made in the Trackside Conference Room by ABC Sports president Steve Bornstein; David Downs, senior vice president of programming for ABC Sports; Tony George, president of the Speedway and Bill Donaldson, IMS vice president. ABC Sports' existing contracts with the Speedway and IRL were extended through 1999 and ABC will have the first negotiation rights to IRL events during that period.

Pole Day Schedule:

 7:00        a.m. -- Gates open
 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. -- Group 1 practice
 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. -- Group 2 practice
 9:00 -10:00 a.m. -- Open practice
11:00 - 6:00 p.m. -- Qualifications and/or practice

Pole Day Radio and Television Schedule (Indianapolis times):

10:15 - 6:15 p.m. -- IMS Radio Network, hourly reports
10:30 -11:30 a.m. -- IMS Radio Network, INDY AM
11:00 - 1:30 p.m. -- ABC Sports Pole Day qualifying coverage
Noon  -12:30 p.m. -- WNDY, Channel 23, Fan Fest
 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. -- IMS Radio Network, INDY PM
 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. -- WTHR, Channel 13, Eyewitness News/Speedquest
 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. -- WISH, Channel 8, SportsLocker Extra: Qualification Wrapup
 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. -- WRTV, Channel 6, Trackside Six Qualification Summary
 7:00 - 7:30 p.m. -- WNDY, Channel 23, Qualification Recaps
10:25 -11:05 p.m. -- WXIN, Channel 59, 59 Overtime Extra 

The PPG Pole Award of $100,000 plus trophies crafted by Tiffany's of New York for both driver and car owner and a $35,000 customized van from Tiara and Dodge heads the list of qualifying awards for the 1996 Indianapolis 500. The PPG Pole Award was started in 1989. Based on Roberto Guerrero's track record of 232.482 miles an hour (2 minutes, 34.851 seconds) for the four-lap run, his pole position in 1992 was worth $645.78 per second and $38,746 per minute. Other qualifying awards include:

Winners in the 30th annual STP/AARWBA writing, photography and broadcasting competitions will be announced May 25 in Indianapolis. The announcement will be made at the annual American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association breakfast at the Speedway Motel. The annual contest has been funded by STP since its inception in 1967. Competitions are held in 13 categories of writing, photography, radio and television.

Robbie Buhl completed the final observation phase of his driver's test, becoming the 14th of the month to do so. Veteran observers were Eddie Cheever, Steve Chassey and Tero Palmroth.

ARIE LUYENDYK: (about fastest lap today): "I definitely had a pretty good tow on that lap. It was a black car -- I don't know who it was, maybe John Paul Jr. The lap looked good on paper though." (about qualifying): "I'd really like to get the pole. Last year I had a pretty good shot at it but it didn't happen. This year, we have a one-car team and have a really good shot. I think we can put in two laps in the 237 range. Speed fluctuates. The first lap is never as fast but we can probably end up in the 237 range. You only want to run as fast as you have to go in my mind."

Brief explanation of qualifying procedures:

1. The pole position is decided by the fastest qualifier on the first day, or the fastest qualifier after one trip through the original qualifying line, whichever comes LAST.


2. Each car can make three qualification attempts. When a car completes a four-lap, 10-mile qualification attempt, its speed becomes official. The car may not requalify. The driver, if the car is bumped, may qualify in another car.


3. If a top 25 car in Indy Racing League points meets the minimum average speed requirement of 220.000 miles per hour, it cannot be bumped.


4. Cars must meet the minimum average speed requirement of 220.000 mph to be eligible for the field.


5. Cars eligible under the IRL qualifying provision for spots in the field if they meet the minimum speed:


#2 Team Menard, #3 Team Menard, #4 Della Penna Motorsports, #5 Jonathan Byrd/Treadway, #7 Team Scandia, #9 Hemelgarn Racing, #11 AJ Foyt Enterprises, #12 Bradley Motorsports, #14 AJ Foyt Enterprises, #15 Tempero-Giuffre, #16 Team Blueprint Racing, #17 Leigh Miller Racing, #18 PDM Racing, #20 Team Menard, #21 Pagan Racing, #25 Tempero-Giuffre Racing, #27 Team Blueprint Racing, #33 Team Scandia, #41 AJ Foyt Enterprises, #45 Zunne Group Racing, #54 Beck Motorsports, #64 Project Indy, #75 Cunningham Racing, #90 Team Scandia, #91 Hemelgarn Racing.

In an announcement this morning, the Hoosier Lottery will sponsor the #12 Bradley Motorsports entry assigned to Buzz Calkins. In addition, May 17 will be Hoosier Lottery Day at the Speedway; the Hoosier Lottery will award 5,000 tickets to the fastest qualifying driver on both May 18 and May 19; and the Hoosier Millionaire game show will be taped at Fan Fest May 24. "The Hoosier Lottery reached an agreement with Bradley to become a primary sponsor for the Indianapolis 500," said John Dillon, Hoosier Lottery Director. "Buzz and the Calkins family are superb and we think they are the best team here." Calkins said, "Thanks to everyone at the Hoosier Lottery. It's nice to have a local community sponsor and we hope the relationship is beneficial to them and us. And the Hoosier Lotto is up to $5 million this week."

LANCO International, Inc., and its subsidiary Mi-Jack Products, Inc., has announced a sponsorship of Alessandro Zampedri driving Team Scandia's #8 Mi-Jack/AGIP/Dinema entry.

Pennzoil, which became the Official Motor Oil of the Speedway this year, now has 19 cars contracted to use Pennzoil motor oil in the Indianapolis 500. Pennzoil has posted $13,000 in contingency prizes, with $10,000 going to the race winner and has offered free fuel service for the month. Overseeing the changeover to Pennzoil at the Speedway is Jim Reynolds, newly appointed manager of Indianapolis Motor Speedway Racing Services, who celebrated his 25th anniversary as a Valvoline employee in March and left that company a month later to take his job here. He supervises a crew of six that includes Nelson Stewart, father of Tony Stewart.

Treadway Racing announced today that the Oldsmobile Aurora V8 engine will power the team's Indy Racing League program in 1997. Treadway becomes the first IRL team to commit to a specific engine program for 1997. "We believe the Oldsmobile engine will be the superior option for the 1997 IRL season," said Fred Treadway. Ed Keating, program manager for the Aurora IRL project, said, "we are honored that they have the confidence in our program to make a commitment at this time.

The 26th annual Terre Haute First National Bank Tony Hulman USAC sprint car race scheduled for tonight has been postponed to Sunday at the Terre Haute Action Track. Practice is set for 5:30 p.m. with first race at 8 p.m.

29 cars were on the track today, running 685 laps. Cars on track today: #2 Brayton; #3 Cheever; #4 Hearn; #7 Salazar; #8 Zampedri; #9 Gregoire, #10 Murphey; #11 Sharp; #12 Calkins; #14 Hamilton; #15 Gosek; #16 Parsons; #18 Paul Jr.; #20 Stewart; #21 Guerrero; #22 Jourdain Jr.; #25 Gosek; #27 Guthrie; #30 Dismore; #33 Alboreto; #35 Luyendyk; #41 Greco; #45 St. James; #54 Buhl; #60 Groff; #64 Unser; #70 Jones; #91 Lazier; #96 Durant.

A total of 46 cars are now at the Speedway, 42 have passed technical inspection, 38 have received final inspection stickers and none are in the process. 33 drivers have been on the track to date. There were 11 yellows for 2 hours, 48 minutes. At 11 a.m., the temperature was 73 degrees and winds were SW at 8 miles per hour. At 2:10 p.m., the temperature was 71 degrees with winds NW at 25 mph with gusts kicking at 32 mph. At 3:30 p.m., the temperature was 64 degrees and winds were south at 8 mph.