INDY 500: Ray reigns again as rain returns to Indy
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
May 8, 2001INDIANAPOLIS - There have been two constants in the first two days of practice for the 85th Indianapolis 500: Rain ending practice early, and Greg Ray leading the speed charts.
Defending pole winner Ray was the fastest driver at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second consecutive day, leading the speed charts May 7 with a top lap of 40.363 seconds, 222.976 mph in the No. 2T Johns Manville/Menards Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone. He was fastest on Indianapolis Star Opening Day on May 6 at 224.301 in the same car.
"We've only ran two cars so far," Ray said. "Really, we're just trying two different setups. I was pleasantly surprised this afternoon. I had a feeling like I really wasn't going to like the setup. But I was pleasantly surprised."
Ray also was third fastest overall at 221.130 in the No. 22 Johns Manville/Menards Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone, the other Team Menard entry for this race. No driver has been assigned to that car.
Strong winds slowed the cars on the 2.5-mile oval before rain washed out practice with approximately three hours remaining in the schedule. Rain ended practice about 10 minutes early Sunday.
Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk was second fastest at 221.340 in the No. 5 Meijer G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone. Eliseo Salazar was fourth fastest at 220.634 in the No. 14 Harrah's A.J. Foyt Racing Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone, while Scott Sharp rounded out the top five at 220.340 in the No. 8 Delphi Automotive Systems Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone.
While today's top speed was slower than Opening Day, more cars found speed in the blustery conditions. Seven cars exceeded 220 mph; only four broke that barrier Sunday.
Michael Andretti turned his first official practice laps at the Speedway since 1995, ending up 19th overall at 217.636 in the No. 39T Motorola/Archipelago Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone.
In the major off-track story of the day, Target Chip Ganassi Racing owner Chip Ganassi announced that 1996-97 Indy Racing League champion Tony Stewart and 1996 CART champion Jimmy Vasser will replace his CART rookies, Bruno Junqueira and Nicolas Minassian this year at Indy.
Stewart also will drive in the NASCAR Winston Cup race in Charlotte, N.C., on May 27, the same day as the Indianapolis 500, for his full-time owner Joe Gibbs. Vasser rejoins his old boss at Indy after they parted company in late 2000 after six seasons together. Vasser now drives full time in CART for Patrick Racing.
Ganassi's new drivers wasted no time after the announcement, each turning laps. Vasser was 10th fastest overall at 219.381 in the No. 44T Target Chip Ganassi Racing G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone. Stewart was 26th at 215.474 in the No. 33T Target Chip Ganassi Racing G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone.
The first incident of the event occurred this afternoon, as rookie Cory Witherill nudged the inside wall between Turns 1 and 2 after performing a full spin in the No. 16 WSA/MOTORS/Indy Regency Racing G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone. He was unhurt.
A total of 39 cars and 32 drivers turned 1,070 laps today. Practice resumes from noon-7 p.m. (EDT) Tuesday. MBNA Pole Day is May 12; Race Day is May 27.
Text provided by Paul Kelly
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