Third Practice Session for the Indy Japan 300

Round Four of the IndyCar Series in Japan


Third Practice Session for the Indy Japan 300

MONTREAL, APRIL 28, 2005 - THINGS DID NOT GO PATRICK CARPENTIER'S WAY 
DURING THE THIRD PRACTICE SESSION HELD TODAY AT TWIN RING MOTEGI IN 
JAPAN.

The Red Bull Cheever Racing driver finished 21st overall posting his 
best lap time around the 2.414-kilometre (1.5-mile) oval track in 
27.5320 seconds for an average speed of 319.856 km/h.  Following his 
first day in Japan, Carpentier complained that the rear of his car 
was sliding a little too much to his liking. It seems that the 
problem has not been solved yet. His teammate Alex Barron finished 
17th overall, ahead of Carpentier.

Dario Franchitti topped the chart in the third session with a lap 
time of 26.6912 seconds. The Scot averaged 329.932 km/h. His Andretti 
Green Racing teammate, Dan Wheldon, finished second, only six 
hundredths of second from Franchitti. Third and fourth places were 
held by a pair of Penske drivers, Brazilian Helio Castroneves and Sam 
Hornish Jr. of the United States. South African Tomas Scheckter 
rounded out the top five.

DRIVERS WILL RETURN ON TRACK LATER TONIGHT AT 11:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME 
FOR THE SINGLE CAR QUALIFYING SESSION THAT WILL SET THE GRID FOR 
SATURDAY'S INDY JAPAN 300, ROUND 4 OF THE INDY CAR SERIES 2005. 
ANOTHER NEWS REPORT ON THE QUALIFYING SESSION WILL FOLLOW.



Indy Japan 300  @ Twin Ring Motegi
On-Track Race Schedule

		Eastern Time
Thursday, April 28	IndyCar Qualifying	11:30 p.m. -

Friday, April 29	IndyCar Warm-Up	02:45 a.m. - 03:15 a.m.
Saturday, April 30	IndyCar Race	12:01 a.m.   -                
	(200 laps - 483 km/300 miles)