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IRL: Ray dominates final day of Disney open test

12 December 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.- Greg Ray crept closer to the Walt Disney World Speedway track record Saturday during the final day of a two-day Open Test for the Indy Racing League, with a lap of 21.281 seconds, 169.165 mph in the Team Menard Dallara/Aurora/Firestone.

Rays time, in a 2000 Dallara chassis and 3.5-liter Aurora engine, is less than three-tenths of second slower than the track record of 21.007 set by Scott Sharp in 1999 with the higher-horsepower 4.0-liter engine.

We did some long runs in the morning, and were just working on consistency, said Ray. We debated whether or not to take a lunch break and make another run instead. We ran the car down to where it was light on fuel. We had trimmed the car down and knew we could go quick, but we were surprised to go that fast.

Everything is so circumstantial, but I think somewhere between 21.1 and 21.4 could take the pole.

Sharp, driving the Delphi Automotive Systems Dallara/Aurora/Firestone for Kelley Racing, was second fastest for the day and third fastest overall at 164.790. Scott Goodyears speed of 165.494 set Friday in the Pennzoil Panther Dallara/Aurora/Firestone remained second fastest overall.

We just worked away all day, and actually I think we can go faster, said Sharp. Weve been trying to sort the whole car out, and were adapting well. Im really happy with the whole engine, tire and transmission package. The racings already tight, but its going to get a lot tighter.

The two-day test completes the first official test of the new 3.5-liter engine, chassis and transmission packages being introduced for the 2000 season.

The drivers and teams completed 1,384 laps Saturday and a total of 2,358 laps during the test. Goodyear completed the most laps today with 198.

Teams will return Jan. 5-6 for a second Open Test at the 1-mile tri-oval. The 2000 Indy Racing League season will get underway Jan. 29 with the Delphi Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway.

PERFORMANCE HISTORY OF THE ORLANDO OPEN TEST

Car No. Driver C/E/T Top Speed (Day Recorded)

1 Greg Ray 2000 Dallara/Aurora/Firestone 169.165 mph (Saturday)

4 Scott Goodyear 2000 Dallara/Aurora/Firestone 165.494 (Friday)

8 Scott Sharp 2000 Dallara/Aurora/Firestone 164.790 (Saturday)

5T Robby McGehee 1999 G Force/Aurora/Firestone 164.639 (Friday)

5 Robby McGehee 2000 G Force/Aurora/Firestone 164.444 (Saturday)

20 Tyce Carlson 2000 Dallara/Aurora/Firestone 164.429 (Friday)

51 Eddie Cheever Jr. 1999 Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone 164.294 (Saturday)

28 Mark Dismore 2000 Dallara/Aurora/Firestone 163.934 (Saturday)

1T Greg Ray 2000 Dallara/Aurora/Firestone 163.733 (Saturday)

91 Buddy Lazier 1999 Dallara/Aurora/Firestone 163.369 (Saturday)

22 Jeret Schroeder 1999 Dallara/Aurora/Firestone 162.206 (Saturday)

12 Buzz Calkins 2000 Dallara/Aurora/Firestone 157.936 (Saturday)

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.