Toyotas 1-2 At Indy 500 Opening Day
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TOYOTAS TOP INDY OPENING DAY
DIXON, CASTRONEVES 1-2 IN PREPARATION FOR 88th INDIANAPOLIS 500
- The Toyota-powered cars of Scott Dixon (Target Toyota) and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner
Helio Castroneves topped the speed charts on the opening day of practice for the 2004
Indianapolis 500.
- Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves (Marlboro Toyota) were the only drivers to go over the 219
miles-per-hour mark on the day. The two Toyota-powered drivers were more than a mile an
hour faster than the next highest driver. Dixon is the reigning IndyCar Series champion, while
Castroneves is looking to become the first driver in history to win three Indianapolis 500s in four
years.
- In addition to the top two, Indianapolis 500 rookie Darren Manning also placed in the top-10
overall today with a 10th. Manning comes into Indy with three consecutive top-six finishes,
including a fourth at the most recent race at Motegi, Japan.
- Two-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish (Marlboro Toyota) sat out today's opening
day practice due to illness. Hornish registered the fastest time on each day of the two-day Indy
Open Test held last week.
Quotes:
Scott Dixon, #1 Target Toyota: "We were just getting up to speed today. I was surprised at
how much grip we had today compared to the open test. Toyota has made some great gains in
the engine and we expect even more to come. I still think we'll hit 224 or 225 (in qualifying).
The track should continue to get faster and I'd expect all the manufacturers to make some
gains. The IRL has done a terrific job with the amount of down-force they've taken away."
Helio Castroneves, "#3 Marlboro Toyota: "We started the way we left the open test (Penske
drivers were 1-2 during the test). It's just a little hotter compared to the test. We need to keep
focused as we get closer to qualifying. The Toyota guys are working hard to fix all the little
things with the new engine. On Friday, we'll see what has worked all week and then we'll start
to trim it out. You need to make your move at the right time."
Toyota Drivers Opening Day
1. #1 Scott Dixon 26. #12T Tora Takagi
2. #3 Helio Castroneves 28. #12 Tora Takagi
10. #10 Darren Manning 29. #25 Marty Roth
12. #1T Scott Dixon 30. #10T Darren Manning
16. #3T Helio Castroneves 33. #14 A.J. Foyt IV
17. #8 Scott Sharp
18. #39 Sarah Fisher
Practice continues Monday, May 10 at 12 noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT