Northern Light IRL: Buzz Calkins set for inaugural Kansas event

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

July 8, 2001

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - Buzz Calkins, of Denver, will start 18th for tomorrow's Ameristar Casino Indy 200 here at Kansas Speedway. The Bradley Food Marts/ Sav-O-Mat Dallara ran two laps with his quick time of 26.2077 seconds (209.838 mph) placing the #12 on the outside of row nine.

The day began with some difficulty for the Bradley Motorsports' team. A wiring harness forced Calkins to park the primary car on the track during the morning's practice session. However, the team had already prepared the 12T car and was ready for Calkins when he returned to pit lane. Calkins immediately set a time quicker in the 'backup' car than he had in the primary car and the team opted to focus on the 12T for the remainder of weekend. The 12T will be officially changed to the #12 for the race.

"Our tire management is really good right now and our race setup should be good for tomorrow," said the 1996 Indy Racing League co-champion. "Those two things will definitely help us. Hopefully the heat will also play to our favor and that will help the Bradley Food Marts/Sav-O-Mat Dallara in the race. I think, with the heat, my physical fitness will benefit us."

High temperatures have played a role in each on-track session of the Indy Racing cars. Heat indexes today approach 115-degrees Fahrenheit (F) with track temperatures over 130-degrees F. Temperatures are expected to approach those levels on race day also.

Bradley Petroleum owns 65 convenience stores and gas stations in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming operating under the Bradley Food Mart and Sav-O-Mat names.

The Ameristar Casino Indy 200 is the inaugural open wheel event at Kansas Speedway. The 200 lap, 300-mile event will be broadcast live on ABC television at 1 PM (ET).

Text provided by Tom Moore

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