Daily Trackside Report - Sunday, May 18
May 18, 2014 | By Verizon IndyCar Series
DAY 8 –SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2014 – OLD NATIONAL ARMED FORCES DAY
TODAY’S SCHEDULE (all times local):
6 a.m. Garage opens
8:30-9:30 a.m. Indianapolis 500 practice (all cars)
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Indianapolis 500 Qualifying (Group 1 Pos. 10-33), ESPN 3 Streaming
2-2:45 p.m. Indianapolis 500 Fast Nine Qualifying (Pos. 1-9), ABC (Live 1-3 p.m.)
3 p.m. Fast Nine media availability, Economaki Press Conference Room
***
Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Day #2 qualifying procedures:
Schedule:
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Qualifying (Pos. 10-33)
2-2:45 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Fast Nine Qualifying
Indianapolis 500 Qualifying – All Saturday times are erased and positions 10-33 will re-qualify to determine starting position. Order will be the reversed order of Saturday’s ranking. Lineup will be determined based on fastest four-lap averages.
Fast Nine Qualifying – The top nine cars will run in reverse order based on Saturday’s speeds. All cars are required to make one attempt. At the end of the session, the cars are ranked 1-9 based on their four-lap average during the segment. Pit selection for the race will be based on the order at the end of the shootout. Points will be awarded as follows:
1st – 9 points 2nd – 8 points 3rd – 7 points
4th – 6 points 5th – 5 points 6th – 4 points
7th – 3 points 8th – 2 points 9th – 1 point
Note: The Indianapolis 500 will award double points for race results, but the qualifying points and any bonus points awarded for leading a lap (1 point) or most laps (2 points) will not be doubled.
INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRACTICE:
At 8:30 a.m., the ambient temperature was 46 degrees with a relative humidity of 82 percent and calm winds. Skies were clear. The track temperature was 55 degrees, according to Firestone engineers.
8:30 a.m. – Start of session delayed due to cold temperatures
8:45 a.m. – GREEN. Session will run for 60 minutes.
9:09 a.m. – YELLOW. Debris on the frontstretch.
9:13 a.m. – GREEN.
9:45 a.m. – CHECKERED.
***
FASTEST TIMES/SPEEDS OF PRACTICE:
Pos. Car Name Time Speed
1. 7 Mikhail Aleshin* 38.6404 232.917
2. 67 Josef Newgarden 38.7363 232.340
3. 26 Kurt Busch* 38.8307 231.775
4. 28 Ryan Hunte-Reay 38.9268 231.203
5. 18 Carlos Huertas 38.9680 230.959
* -- Rookie
Former NBA coaches Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, who are in town to broadcast the Indiana Pacers/Miami Heat Eastern Conference Finals were at the Speedway with Tim Corrigan, senior coordinating producer for the NBA on ESPN on ABC, for a two-seater ride in the Indy Racing Experience with 1969 Indy 500 winner, Mario Andretti.
MARK JACKSON: “I just drove with Mario Andretti. It was absolutely unbelievable. It was a thrill of a lifetime. There is nothing like this. The unbelievable thing is I am upset at myself because, playing here and living here, never experiencing it during those times. It really is a blessing to do this today. I’m just speechless right now.” (As a popular ex-player for the Indiana Pacers, can you remain unbiased in your commentary duties?) “Yes. At the end of the day it’s a job, but these people here have been incredible to me and they will always play a huge part of my heart. It will bring back a lot of memories. But, I will just tell the story – whatever that story is.” (What kind of story do you predict this series will tell?) “I think it is going to be a great series. It’s the two best teams in the east. There are some great stories. They are two teams that are extremely well coached. It should be a lot of fun.”
MARIO ANDRETTI: “I think they loved it. They didn’t know what to expect. But, it is usually more of a thrill than they ever anticipated, in my opinion. At least that is how they are expressing it. That is a reaction we pretty much get from everyone. It’s satisfying from my standpoint because I know that I am bringing fans closer and closer. I love doing this. I think I enjoy it more than they do. I think this is a fantastic program for the IndyCar series and for motor racing because it is such a non-participant sport. This is the only way really to get fans to appreciate what is going on. To me, it’s one of the most important programs in motorsports right now.”
JEFF VAN GUNDY: “That was the greatest experience of my life. When you watch it on TV and you see it from afar, you have no idea of how fast it is. I just can’t believe they can be so close to each other and make split second decisions, I don’t know how they do it. I was scared at first. I have never been that fast in my life other than in an airplane. When you hit the bank and the turn, how it’s pulling on you, it’s incredible. There is nothing that you could ever do that would approximate that. That cannot be re-done.” (On his family history with the Indianapolis 500): “My grandfather was an usher here, a yellow shirt. This was a highlight for him every year. And my Mom would come to qualifying and the race. They lived a mile from here. So I called her this morning to say I was going to do this. I said. ‘Who is your favorite driver?’ She said, ‘Mario Andretti.’ It’s emotional, you know what I mean? I’ve never been here before, as many times as I’ve been in Indianapolis. Man, you talk about checking something off your list, this is special.” (On growing up listening to the ‘500’ on the radio): When I was in high school, I remember specifically, I was in upstate New York. The TV would be on but we would listen to it on the radio. She (his Mom) would have it on all day. I never understood it. I’m like, ‘You’re listening to the radio?’ And that’s what she did for a lot of her life.” (On how this experience with Mario Andretti translated to anything basketball-related): “You know what, I was just with Michael Jordan doing his thing. That would be number one. He won F1, Daytona and here. Are you kidding me? And then, to do it on the most historic track and to have the chance to actually be in the back seat and ride; one of the great thrills of my life.”
TIM CORRIGAN: “I don’t even know what to compare it to. All I can tell you is when we started hitting those turns and I looked over and we were that close to the wall, it was spectacular. I completely respect everything any professional athlete does on any level, and it’s just mind blowing to think that 33 drivers are out there at the same time doing that. ” (Is this your first time here?): “I came to the Speedway in 1986 when I was trying to get into the TV business to work as a runner for ABC. That’s the only time I’ve ever been here before today.”
At 11 a.m., the ambient temperature was 57 degrees with a relative humidity of 55 percent and calm winds. Skies were partly cloudy. The track temperature was 84 degrees, according to Firestone engineers.
Each qualifying attempt will start on the second time past the flag stand.
11:01 a.m. #91 BUDDY LAZIER/Vail, Colo.
Wynn Institute for Vision Research Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 39.4745 – 227.995 Q – 1
2 – 39.4924 – 227.892
3 – 39.4827 – 227.948
4 – 39.5005 – 227.845
T 2:37.9501 – 227.920
11:06 a.m. #41 MARTIN PLOWMAN/Tamworth, England
ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt Racing Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.2700 – 229.183 Q – 2
2 – 39.3354 – 228.802
3 – 39.3507 – 228.713
4 – 39.3772 – 228.559
T 2:37.3333 – 228.814
11:11 a.m. #68 ALEX TAGLIANI/Lechenaie, Quebec
SFHR/RW Motorsports Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.2476 – 229.313 Q – 3
2 – 39.2519 – 229.288
3 – 39.2800 – 229.124
4 – 39.3243 – 228.866
T 2:37.1038 – 229.148
11:15 a.m. #18 CARLOS HUERTAS/Bogota, Colombia
Dale Coyne Racing Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.2730 – 229.165 Q – 4
2 – 39.2483 – 229.309
3 – 39.2432 – 229.339
4 – 39.2683 – 229.193
T 2:37.0328 – 229.251
11:19 a.m. #16 ORIOL SERVIA/Pals, Spain
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.1301 – 230.002 Q – 5
2 – 39.1688 – 229.775
3 – 39.1799 – 229.710
4 – 39.2117 – 229.523
T 2:36.6905 – 229.752
INDIANAPOLIS 500 QUALIFYING CHRONOLOGY: (Cont.)
11:24 a.m. #33 JAMES DAVISON/Melbourne, Australia
KVRT/Always Evolving Racing Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 39.2984 – 229.071 Q – 6
2 – 39.3280 – 228.845
3 – 39.3579 – 228.671
4 – 39.3134 – 228.930
T 2:37.2977 – 228.865
11:28 a.m. #5 JACQUES VILLENEUVE/St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.2542 – 229.275 Q – 7
2 – 39.3161 – 228.914
3 – 39.3408 – 228.770
4 – 39.3989 – 228.839
T 2:37.2400 – 228.949
11:33 a.m. #17 SEBASTIAN SAAVEDRA/Bogota, Colombia
KV AFS Racing Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 39.4534 – 228.117 Q – 8
2 – 39.4404 – 228.192
3 – 39.4778 – 227.976
4 – 39.4619 – 228.068
T 2:37.8335 – 228.088
11:38 a.m. #63 PIPPA MANN/Ipswich, England
Dale Coyne Racing Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.2190 – 229.481 Q – 9
2 – 39.2505 – 229.296
3 – 39.2699 – 229.183
4 – 39.3127 – 228.934
T 2:37.0521 – 229.223
11:42 a.m. #11 SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS/Le Mans, France
Hydroxycut/Mistic KVSH Racing Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 39.1399 – 229.944 Q – 10
2 – 39.1356 – 229.970
3 – 39.1620 – 229.815
4 – 39.1884 – 229.660
T 2:36.6259 – 229.847
INDIANAPOLIS 500 QUALIFYING CHRONOLOGY: (Cont.)
11:46 a.m. #10 TONY KANAAN/Salvador, Brazil
Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 39.0847 – 230.269 Q – 11
2 – 39.1250 – 230.032
3 – 39.1658 – 229.792
4 – 39.1995 – 229.595
T 2:36.5750 – 229.922
11:51 a.m. #6 TOWNSEND BELL/San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Robert Graham KV Racing Technology Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 39.2833 – 229.105 Q – 12
2 – 39.2937 – 229.044
3 – 39.3001 – 229.001
4 – 39.3209 – 228.886
T 2:37.1990 – 229.009
11:55 a.m. #22 SAGE KARAM/Nazareth, Pa.
Comfort Revolution/Brantley Gilbert Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 39.3712 – 228.593 Q – 13
2 – 39.3727 – 228.585
3 – 39.2131 – 229.515
4 – 39.4548 – 228.109
T 2:37.5931 – 228.436
12:01 p.m. #15 GRAHAM RAHAL/New Albany, Ohio
National Guard Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.1594 – 229.830 Q – 14
2 – 39.1597 – 229.828
3 – 39.2097 – 229.535
4 – 39.2468 – 229.318
T 2:36.7756 – 229.628
12:05 p.m. #83 CHARLIE KIMBALL/Camarillo, Calif.
Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 39.2711 – 229.176 Q – 15
2 – 39.2709 – 229.177
3 – 39.3374 – 228.790
4 – 39.3582 – 228.669
T 2:37.2376 – 228.953
INDIANAPOLIS 500 QUALIFYING CHRONOLOGY: (Cont.)
12:09 p.m. #14 TAKUMA SATO/Tokyo
ABC Supply A.J. Foyt Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.2755 – 229.150 Q – 16
2 – 39.2445 – 229.331
3 – 39.2381 – 229.369
4 – 39.3090 – 228.955
T 2:37.0671 – 229.201
12:13 p.m. #8 RYAN BRISCOE/Sydney
NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 39.3678 – 228.613 Q – 17
2 – 39.3569 – 228.677
3 – 39.3143 – 228.924
4 – 39.3638 – 228.636
T 2:37.4028 – 228.713
12:18 p.m. #7 MIKHAIL ALESHIN/Moscow
SMP Racing Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.1341 – 229.978 Q – 18
2 – 39.0788 – 230.304
3 – 39.1483 – 229.895
4 – 39.1269 – 230.021
T 2:36.4881 – 230.049
12:23 p.m. #9 SCOTT DIXON/Auckland, New Zealand
Target Chip Ganassi Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 38.9568 – 231.025 Q – 19
2 – 38.9769 – 230.906
3 – 38.9820 – 230.876
4 – 38.9773 – 230.904
T 2:35.8930 – 230.928
Dixon’s qualifying effort is the fastest qualifying attempt of the month, so far and his fastest lap (231.025 mph) is the fastest qualifying lap of the month.
12:28 p.m. #19 JUSTIN WILSON/Sheffield, England
Dale Coyne Racing Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.0033 – 230.750 Q – 20
2 – 39.0497 – 230.476
3 – 39.1042 – 230.154
4 – 39.1908 – 229.646
T 2:36.3480 – 230.256
INDIANAPOLIS 500 QUALIFYING CHRONOLOGY: (Cont.)
12:32 p.m. #2 JUAN PABLO MONTOYA/Bogota, Colombia
Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 38.8701 – 231.540 Q – 21
2 – 38.9543 – 231.040
3 – 38.9848 – 230.859
4 – 39.0304 – 230.589
T 2:35.8396 – 231.007
Montoya’s qualifying effort is the fastest qualifying attempt of the month, so far and his fastest lap (231.540 mph) is the fastest qualifying lap of the month.
12:36 p.m. #98 JACK HAWKSWORTH/Bradford, England
Integrity Energee Drink Honda
QA-1 1 – 38.9818 – 230.877 Q – 22
2 – 38.9768 – 230.907
3 – 39.0042 – 230.744
4 – 39.2151 – 229.503
T 2:36.1779 – 230.506
12:41 p.m. #28 RYAN HUNTER-REAY, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
DHL Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.1685 – 229.776 Q – 23
2 – 39.1852 – 229.679
3 – 39.1710 – 229.762
4 – 39.1885 – 229.659
T 2:36.7132 – 229.719
12:45 p.m. #26 KURT BUSCH/Las Vegas
Suretone Honda
QA-1 1 – 38.9614 – 230.998 Q – 24
2 – 38.9956 – 230.795
3 – 38.9953 – 230.797
4 – 39.0390 – 230.539
T 2:35.9913 – 230.782
12:50 p.m. – End Group 1 Qualifying. #2 Montoya has secured 10th qualifying place. #26 Busch is the fastest rookie in the field.
Verizon IndyCar Series and Indy Lights team owner Sam Schmidt drove simulated four qualifying laps this morning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the SAM Project (Semi-autonomous) passenger car, a specially equipped 2014 Corvette C7 Stingray.
It was the first time that a semi-autonomous passenger car has been driven at speed on a race track using integrated advanced electronics.
The participants in the SAM project who were at the Speedway: Sam Schmidt, owner, Schmidt Peterson Motor Sports; Michael J. Long, chairman, president and CEO, Arrow Electronics, Inc.; Chakib Loucif, vice president, engineering, Arrow Electronics, Inc.; Timothy Choate, senior business area manager, aerospace and cyberspace technologies, Ball Aerospace; James Christensen, PhD, applied neuroscience branch, Air Force Research Laboratory; and Dr. Scott Falci, chief neurosurgeon, Craig Hospital, and founder, Falci Adaptive Motorsports.
SAM SCHMIDT: “There isn’t one word to describe it (laps around the Speedway). It’s exhilarating, it’s unbelievable, it’s amazingly normal – that’s the big thing. It just felt natural, that’ was the biggest surprise. When you turn your head, push my head back to go faster, and the braking system, it just felt like I was driving again. This (project) started nine months ago. The most amazing part of this thing is that this is a 75 or a 100-year old problem and these people got together and solved a problem in nine months. Kudos to Aero, Ball and the Air Force for putting all the systems together. Hopefully this technology will apply to a lot of other technologies and help a lot of people. (The speed) I crossed the bricks on my last lap at 100 miles per hour and that was the goal; check that one off the list. I’m inspired by this project; it’s re-energized me to see if we can find a cure for paralysis in my lifetime. Again we have to get the right minds in the right place and with the right amount of resources working on it. If this motivates a lot of people and inspires hem to do great things – fantastic. This technology is translational and can help a lot of people – mobility, transportation, medical devices; it has a lot of applications.
CHAKIB LOUCIF (Arrow Electronics, Inc.): “This came together with Sam with two aspects – giving Sam the ability and the freedom to get back to driving and how to leverage the technology and push it to the edge. We used sophisticated equipment available in the industry today. We integrated it all together and developed proprietary software for the guidance system and guide by wire, all the control pieces, GPS, for additional safety. It all came together for Sam to drive the car. Sam has only the capacity (to move) from the neck up. From day one, we wanted to develop a system for Sam that would allow him to control a car by using his natural movements with his head. Tilting his head to the left will turn the car to the left, to the right then to the right; he uses a pressure sensor in his mouth to bite on and the harder he bites, the harder he brakes. We enable Sam to interact with the vehicle. Here we are today, nine months into the project.”
TIM CHOATE (Ball Aerospace): “We have the human-machine interface technology and designed the algorithms which then took his head control, digitized it, and then sent that signal to the car so the car could respond to him. Ball Aerospace has been in the human-machine interface technology for 25 years; how the human acts with a computer. We received the car in December (2013), started hard-core coding and algorithms development in January and we brought the car here for the first time on April 7. We got our scientists and engineers together to look at what Sam could do and understanding what he can do and what technology can do to augment him so he could control the care safely – and safety was the biggest issue that we were concerned about. This is a very specific example of providing hope to people with disabilities to restore their independence.”
SUNDAY QUALIFYING/FAST NINE SHOOTOUT NOTES:
The top nine cars will qualify in reverse order of their Saturday speeds, with ninth first, eighth second and so on. Each car will receive one attempt.
Drivers participating in Shootout: #21 Hildebrand, #67 Newgarden, #77 Pagenaud, #25 Andretti, #12 Power, #27 Hinchcliffe, #3 Castroneves, #34 Munoz, #20 Carpenter
Team breakdown in Shootout:
Andretti Autosport, three cars (#34 Munoz, #27 Hinchcliffe and #25 Andretti)
Team Penske, two cars (#12 Power, #3 Castroneves)
Ed Carpenter Racing, two cars (#20 Carpenter, #21 Hildebrand)
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, one car (#67 Newgarden)
Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Racing, one car (#77 Pagenaud)
Five of the nine cars in the Shootout are powered by Honda engines. Four are powered by Chevrolet engines.
FAST NINE SHOOTOUT CHRONOLOGY:
At 2 p.m., the ambient temperature was 60 degrees with calm winds. Skies were fair. The track temperature was 105, according to Firestone engineers
2 p.m. #21 JR HILDEBRAND/Sausalito, Calif.
Preferred Freezer/Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 39.2171 – 229.492 Q – 25
2 – 39.1203 – 230.060
3 – 39.3826 – 228.527
4 – 39.6738 – 226.850
T 2:37.3938 – 228.726
2:04 p.m. #67 JOSEF NEWGARDEN/Hendersonville, Tenn.
Hartman Oil/Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.0298 – 230.593 Q – 26
2 – 39.0715 – 230.347
3 – 39.1157 – 230.087
4 – 39.3776 – 228.556
T 2:36.5946 – 229.893
2:09 p.m. #77 SIMON PAGENAUD/Montmorillon, France
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda
QA-1 1 – 38.9950 – 230.799 Q – 27
2 – 39.0081 – 230.721
3 – 39.0499 – 230.474
4 – 39.0519 – 230.463
T 2:36.1049 – 230.614
***
Today is Simon Pagenaud’s 30th birthday.
2:14 p.m. #25 MARCO ANDRETTI/Nazareth, Pa.
Snapple Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.0114 – 230.702 Q – 28
2 – 39.0292 – 230.597
3 – 39.0409 – 230.527
4 – 39.0711 – 230.349
T 2:36.1526 – 230.544
2:20 p.m. #12 WILL POWER/Toowoomba, Australia
Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 38.9811 – 230.881 Q – 29
2 – 38.9777 – 230.901
3 – 39.0226 – 230.636
4 – 39.0674 – 230.371
T 2:36.0488 – 230.697
#12 Power takes provisional pole position from #77 Pagenaud.
2:25 p.m. #27 JAMES HINCHCLIFFE/Toronto
United Fiber & Data Honda
QA-1 1 – 38.8571 – 231.618 Q – 30
2 – 38.9466 – 231.086
3 – 38.9878 – 230.841
4 – 39.1613 – 229.819
T 2:35.9528 – 230.839
#27 Hinchcliffe takes provisional pole position from #12 Power.
2:29 p.m. #3 HELIO CASTRONEVES/Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Team Penske Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 38.8482 – 231.671 Q – 31
2 – 38.9126 – 231.288
3 – 39.0574 – 230.430
4 – 39.2630 – 229.223
T 2:36.0812 – 230.649
2:34 p.m. #34 CARLOS MUNOZ/Bogota, Colombia
Cinsay AndrettiTV.com HVM Honda
QA-1 1 – 39.0194 – 230.654 Q – 32
2 – 39.0857 – 230.263
3 – 39.1343 – 229.977
4 – 39.1830 – 229.691
T 2:36.4224 – 230.146
2:38 p.m. #20 ED CARPENTER/Indianapolis
Fuzzy’s Vodka/Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
QA-1 1 – 38.8866 – 231.442 Q – 33
2 – 38.9255 – 231.211
3 – 39.0000 – 230.769
4 – 38.9871 – 230.846
T 2:35.7992 – 231.067
#20 Carpenter wins Verizon P1 Award for 98th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
***
Ed Carpenter is the 11th driver to win back-to-back poles at Indianapolis. The other drivers to win back-to-back pole positions for the Indianapolis 500:
Ralph De Palma 1920-21
Rex Mays 1935-36
Eddie Sachs 1960-61
Parnelli Jones 1962-63
Mario Andretti 1966-67
A.J. Foyt 1974-75
Tom Sneva 1977-78
Rick Mears 1988-89
Scott Brayton 1995-96
Helio Castroneves 2009-10.
***
The difference in time between fastest qualifier, Ed Carpenter and slowest qualifier, Buddy Lazier is 2.1509 seconds. This is the closest field by time in the history of the Indianapolis 500. The previous closest was 2.5399 seconds in 2011.
The difference in speed between fastest qualifier, Ed Carpenter and slowest qualifier, Buddy Lazier is 3.147 mph. This is the second closest field by speed in the history of the Indianapolis 500. The closest was 3.130 mph in 1953.
***
All three front-row starters will be making their second start on the front row. Ed Carpenter won pole in 2013. Will Power started second in 2010, Hinchcliffe started second in 2012.
***
2014 INDIANAPOLIS 500 FIELD NOTES
There are six former Indianapolis 500 winners in the starting field: Tony Kanaan (2013), Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009), Scott Dixon (2008), Juan Pablo Montoya (2000), Buddy Lazier (1996) and Jacques Villeneuve (1995). Between them they have eight victories. The record for most former winners in the field is 10, in 1992. The fewest, other than the inaugural race in 1911, is zero in 1912.
There are seven rookies in the field. This year’s rookies are Mikhail Aleshin, Kurt Busch, James Davison, Jack Hawksworth, Carlos Huertas, Sage Karam and Martin Plowman. Last year there were four rookies.
Buddy Lazier is the most experienced driver in the field, with 17 previous Indianapolis 500 starts. The record is 35, set in consecutive years from 1958-1992 by A.J. Foyt.
Scott Dixon has led 347 career laps in the Indianapolis 500, more than any other driver in this year’s field. Other drivers in the field who have led more than 200 laps are Tony Kanaan (255) and Helio Castroneves (232).
DAY 8 –SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2014 – OLD NATIONAL ARMED FORCES DAY
Page 12
2014 INDIANAPOLIS 500 FIELD NOTES: (Cont.)
Twenty-one different drivers in this year’s field have led a total of 1,459 laps in previous Indianapolis 500 Mile races.
There is a combined 149 previous Indianapolis 500 starts among the 33 drivers in this year’s field. The record is 260 years of experience, set in 1987 and 1992. There were 144 years of combined experience in last year’s field.
The oldest driver in the starting field is Buddy Lazier, 46. The youngest qualifier is Sage Karam, 19. A.J. Foyt IV is the youngest driver to start the Indianapolis 500. His 19th birthday was on race day, 2003.
There are 14 veterans of the Indy Lights Series in the field. The veterans are Marco Andretti, Ed Carpenter, James Davison, Jack Hawksworth, JR Hildebrand, James Hinchcliffe, Sage Karam, Charlie Kimball, Pippa Mann, Carlos Munoz, Josef Newgarden, Martin Plowman, Graham Rahal and Sebastian Saavedra.
In addition to the 4 rookies in the race, there are two drivers (Juan Pablo Montoya and Jacques Villeneuve) who did not start in last year’s race. Villeneuve’s last start in the Indianapolis 500 was 19 years ago in 1995. Montoya’s last start was in 2000.
***
The field average for the 33 cars is 229.382. This is the fastest field in Indianapolis 500 history. The previous fastest field was in 228.648 set in 2002.
MONDAY’S SCHEDULE:
6 a.m. Garage opens
7 a.m. Front row photoshoot, Track adjacent to South pits
Noon – 5 p.m. Indianapolis 500 practice
There were 71 qualifying attempts today, an Indianapolis 500 qualifying record. The previous best was 67 on May 22 2010 (Pole Day).
***
There are no additional entries for the 98th Indianapolis 500. The field of 33 cars is set for the race.
SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE (all times local):
6 a.m. Garage opens
8-9:30 a.m. Indianapolis 500 practice (all cars)
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Indianapolis 500 Qualifying (Group 1 Pos. 10-33), ESPN 3 Streaming
2-2:45 p.m. Indianapolis 500 Fast Nine Qualifying (Pos. 1-9), ABC (Live 1-3 p.m.)
3 p.m. Fast Nine media availability, Economaki Press Conference Room
END DAY 7 NOTES