Indy 200 Journal

part 3

Friday 1/26 (Qualifying Day):

USAC announced that Kudgrave passed his driver's test yesterday, but AIS champ Bill Temporo, Rick DeLorto, and Jim Buick did not, and won't attempt to qualify today

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Again, amidst rumors of cancelled bleachers, unsold Disney "package" raceticket options, etc., the Indy 200 is said to be a sellout, with 50,122 grandstand seats and 620 for handicapped guests - At a Disney facility, there are "guests," not patrons, spectators, or customers

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Run into USAC IRL honcho Cary Agajanian, talks about young circle-track drivers that are here, one of the often-stated aims of the IRL, says they came close to getting two-time USAC midget champion Stevie Reeves (who drives a NASCAR Busch Grand National car for Agajanian, John Andretti, and Mike Curb) and '94 Silver Crown champ Mike Bliss (who drove NASCAR SuperTrucks last year), but their respective NASCAR deals took precedence. "We'll get'em, but people don't realize how much money they pay these guys to drive in NASCAR."

9:32, 40-yr. old Chilean Eliseo Salazar makes hard contact in turn one, after brushing the wall coming out of three, spinning across the track to hit and slide along the pit wall the length of the front straight, then almost straight up the turn one banking into the outside wall - BIG-TIME smack. He's okay, but has taken a big cut in one leg. Word is, he probably won't be able to qualify today. Too bad. The guy has his own cheering section. There are now a BUNCH of unhappy Chileans at Disney World.

One wiseacre journalist's comment: "Told yo those CART guys can't drive."

Official report is that Salazar is in serious, but stable condition and being prepared for surgery - to REMOVE the stabalizer bar that has penetrated his right leg. This is why he remained in the car so long. In no danger, but apparently, in a lot of pain, according to one witness who was there.

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Odd fact at an Indy car race: There are probably only four or five teams here with a backup car. Lack of engines and lack of budget. If this same condition applies at the Speedway, the IRL guys will take their practice laps early in May and park them 'til qualifying. There's gonna be nothing happening for two weeks!

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See former sprint and Indy car driver Steve Chassey and partner Michael Deer. Their Evansville Insurance Group now carries insurance on the three fastest cars, so far. Deer tells me he's going to miss his first Indy 500 in 22 years because they have to be two places on the same day to serve their clients, Indy and Michigan, for CART's U.S. 500. Ask if they drew straws and Deer says, "No, I'm the only one who can go up to Michigan and be politically correct. Chas never would."

Lunch with Ford motor racing honcho Lee Morse at Luyendyk's Jonathan Byrd Cafeteria/Leverle-Treadway team tent today, answering the first burning question asked by motor racing journalists at Walt Disney World Speedway, "Does Jonathan Byrd Cafeteria (our culinary benefactor at Indy) deliver to Florida?" Talk to Morse about the dearth of Ford Cosworth XB engines - often mentioned as one reason there aren't more teams here. "We are completely overwhelmed. We couldn't possibly do any more programs. It would be a disservice to everyone." Re IRL team complaints," he says, "We're getting it from both sides. The IRL is on us, saying, "We need more motors," and the CART guys say, "If you just held back and didn't give'em any, there wouldn't BE an IRL series."

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Indy P.A. announcer Tom Carnagie intones the familiar, "It's a new track record," as Lazier takes the pole in Hemelgarn's Reynard-Lola, with a fastest lap (of two) of 181.388 mph (19.847 seconds). Hearn is second, the only other car under 20 seconds. Guerrero gets REALLY sideways coming out of three just as he's taking the green to qualify, still manages third fastest, a good performance in his '94 Reynard. Then Luyendyk, with Foyt's Scott Sharp and Davey Hamilton bracketing Buzz Calkins for 5th and 7th fastest. Surprisingly, rookie Tony Stewart beats his teammate Cheever for 8th and Brayton's Menard is in 12th, behind Stan Wattles and Stephan Gregoire and just in front of Lyn St. James, who bested her previous lap speed by more than 5 mph. Behind her are Mike Groff, in Foyt's other car (rumored to be financed by Tony George to fill out the field), Robbie Buhl, in 15th, Alboreto, Johnny O'Connell, John Paul Jr. and Johnny Parsons Jr. soldiering on in '93 Lolas, and David Kudgrave last, taking almost five seconds longer to do his fastest lap than poleman Lazier in an ancient '92 Lola-Buick. That's a 35 mph difference. If the differential holds in race trim, Kudgrave should be passed about every four or five laps by the leaders. Yikes!

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Lazier, after his pole-winning qualifying run at Walt Disney World: "Without question, this is the best ride in the world."

Arie Luyendyk: "We made a change in the morning and went the wrong way. It was loose. I got sideways coming out of three taking the green, which was not exactly a confidence builder."

About the race: "It'll be critical to get a good balance tomorrow. I hope there's no wind like there was today. It's gonna be tricky for some guys who haven't been out there in traffic. It'll be busy. We plan to look out for ourselves. You can't be bangin' wheels on a mile. We'll have to be aggressive, but courteous. Because if you get up into the gray, it'll be like ice."

Third fastest, Roberto Guerrero, on his sideways snap coming out of three to take the green: "My tires weren't up to temperature. I think everybody needed one more lap to warm up the tires here. Everyone was faster on the second lap." Point out that he was by far the fastest in a '94 car. True to form, Guerrero candidly replied, "Oh, I don't think it makes a difference." What a class act.

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On my way over to Menard's, run into legendary Indy engine- builder Sonny Meyer, a key man in the braintrust behind the Menard V6. Ask him about the performance of his young rookie, Tony Stewart. "You should've seen him when he came in," he laughs, then makes his hands tremble, "He said, 'Look at me, I'm shaking!' He's alright. Anyone who can win in midgets, sprint cars, and champ cars can drive."

I ask about the suitability (or lack of) of the Menard V6 for a mile track like this. "Well, it's a combination of things. That motor is a lot heavier than the others, you know, "he says, "We're WAY overweight here, but we'll have our new aluminum motor by Phoenix and be right on the minimum weight limit. It's only been 20 weeks since we started on the aluminum motor. It wasn't ready but we had to come here, anyway."

Find Stewart at Menard's. How does he feel about blowing off his veteran teammates? "Oh, I'm just tickled to death," he says, quickly adding that Cheever's been struggling with his car today. "I was here when they were testing and they were really fast." Cheever giving him a bad time about outqualifying him, we ask. "Well, yeah, you know Cheever, he's been razzing me some," he smiles.

Did his testing time with A.J. at Phoenix brake the ice for him in Indy cars. "Yes, it helped, I think. I'm starting to get more comfortable now. And we're going to make a couple more changes to make the car a little faster."

For a short time, it looked like Stewart might drive for Foyt. Is he pleased with his team? "Oh, yeah. I think this team is the right one for me." He points to his crew, "See that guy on the rear wing, he builds midgets. Two of those guys work on sprint cars. And this guy has a Silver Crown car. And then you've got a great Indy guy like Sonny Meyer. When there's a problem, everyone brings a different point of view. It's really interesting. They're just right for me, methodical and thorough."

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Snag a word with former F1 Ferrari driver Michele Alboreto as he finishes with a TV interview. Ask if Danny Sullivan's advice yesterday helped. "Yes, it was very helpful. I'm much more comfortable now. We made a mistake and went the wrong way on the setup this morning, so qualifying wasn't so good."

Remark how different this must be from his experience. "Very different, but I am learning. Now, tomorrow I just have to find a way to catch the lead guys."

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Oh, no. Half way through a final half-hour practice session for qualified cars, Richie Hearn and Cheever are into the wall in turn one. A witness says Cheever was on his normal line when Hearn passed under someone else and then got too close under Eddie. They touched. Both okay, but Cheever definitely needs his backup car and will move to the back of the field at the start. The question is, will Hearn's car make it. If it can't be repaired with parts from the car he crashed at P.I.R., where will he get a backup? Salazar's or Arie's backup? Will Tony George have to help out?

Jeeze, now Brayton spins down the front straight. Doesn't look like he's hit anything. Hurry up and end this practice. We're down to 20 cars, now.

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Veteran Indy photographer pal tells me he's really worried about tomorrow. Saw crews practicing pit stops, FOR THE FIRST TIME. "What are these guys gonna do under pressure," he asks, "when cars are flyin' in and out of the pits? They're amateurs. Hell, one fueler never DID get the hose in the nozzle!"

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On the way out, ask IRL Executive Director and CEO Jack Long about the horde of people streaming into the infield as darkess falls. "That's the 800-strong Disney opening show for the race tomorrow. You know, it's going to be a real Disney thing. They'll probably be practicing here 'til we have to throw them out and get to work."

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Unconfirmed, but the latest on Richie Hearn is that his team, Ralphs-Food 4 Less/Della Penna Motorsports, has made a deal with Pagan Racing for Roberto Guerrero's backup car. Sure hope that's true. But if so, he'll start at the back and Guerrero moves up to the front row.

To be continued.....

Related Stories: "Indy Journal, part 1", "Indy Journal, part 2", "Indy Journal, part 4", "Who's the leader..."