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Indy 500: Good Morning From a Wet Indy

24 May 1998

By Terry Callahan
The Auto Channel

A Wet Track
Early In The Morning

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (6:30 a.m.): The most dreaded words during the month of May at Indianapolis are "We have a window". It is a reference to the weather. What it really means is.... It is raining. The weather forecasters attempt to instill hope by saying there is a chance the skies will open and the Indianapolis 500 might (by some miracle) be ran sometime during the day.

The weather professionals have already began spouting their predictions this morning. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is covered with puddles. On the bright side, we do have a "window" according to those weather fortune tellers.

It may be appropriate that the driver on the pole for the 82nd running of the Indianapolis 500 is named Boat. Billy Boat is making his second appearance in the famed race. Boat is driving for the legendary A.J. Foyt. He landed the well funded ride last year when Foyt's primary driver was injured in two separate accidents while practicing for the Indy 500. Boat's talent and driving style impressed Foyt. Boat was hired to drive the car full time at the conclusion of the 1997 Indy Racing League season.

In other news from around the track, Roberto Guerrero was awarded the Scott Brayton Driver's trophy last night during a special awards ceremony. The award is given to the driver who exhibits the character and racing spirit of the late Scott Brayton. The popular Brayton was killed at the Speedway two years ago while practicing for the Indy 500.

Other awards were handed out during the ceremony. Brad McCanless of Team Scandia was awarded the Lint Brawner Mechanical Excellence Award. McCanless received the award for his efforts in getting rookie Jimmy Kite into the "500". Kite crashed three times during the month while preparing to his first Indy. He qualified in the final hour of the final day of qualifications.

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