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INDY 500: Five teams file six total entries for Indy 500 as deadline looms

13 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
INDIANAPOLIS- Five teams filed a total of six entries April 12 for the 84th Indianapolis 500, as Memo Gidley, Johnny Unser, Doug Didero, Andy Michner, Ronnie Johncox and J.J. Yeley each were named to drive.

Team Pelfrey entered the #82 Team Pelfrey Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone for Gidley, who passed the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program earlier this week. A backup car also has been entered. Gilbert Lage is the team manager, with the chief mechanic to be named.

Gidley will be a teammate to 1998 Indianapolis 500 pole winner Billy Boat, who was named to drive the first Team Pelfrey entry filed April 7.

Indy Regency Racing, LLC entered the #22 Delco Remy-Microdigicom-Homier Tools-G Force-Oldsmobile G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone for Indianapolis 500 veteran Unser. A backup car also was entered. Sal Incandela is the team manager, with the chief mechanic to be named. The team has not fielded an entry in any previous Indy Racing Northern Light Series events this year.

Unser will attempt to make his fifth consecutive Indianapolis 500 start. His best finish was 18th in 1997. Unser is the son of Indianapolis 500 veteran Jerry Unser and the cousin of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., who also will compete in this year's race.

Mid America Motorsports Inc. filed an entry for the #43 Mid America Motorsports Inc. Western Star Trucks Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone. Rookie Didero will drive, pending completion of the final phase of the Rookie Orientation Program. David Didero, Doug Didero's cousin, is the team manager and chief mechanic. A backup car also was entered.

A new team, Logan Racing, entered the #19 Logan Racing Special Dallara/Oldsmobile/Firestone for Michner. No backup car was entered, and the chief mechanic and team manager will be named later.

Michner finished eighth in his only Indianapolis 500 appearance in 1998.

Jonathan Byrd-McCormack Motorsports LLC filed two entries, one each for Johncox and Yeley.

Johncox, an Indianapolis 500 rookie who is the team's full-time Northern Light Series driver, will drive the #30 Jonathan Byrd's-WorldBestBuy.com Riley & Scott/Oldsmobile/Firestone. The team has entered a G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone backup car for Johncox. Mark Olson is chief mechanic, with Dennis McCormack as team manager.

Yeley will attempt to make his second Indianapolis start in the #29 Jonathan Byrd/McCormack Motorsports-Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone. He finished ninth in 1998. A backup car also was entered. Mike Haisley is chief mechanic, with McCormack as team manager. Practice starts May 13 for the Indianapolis 500, with Pole Day May 20 and Race Day May 28. Entries must be postmarked by midnight April 12

Text provided by Paul Kelly

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