102nd Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil Media Day Notebook
May 25, 2018 | By Phillip B. Wilson, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Graham Rahal promises to buy Alexander Rossi dinner after being saved the dubious distinction of being a guest of honor for the infamous “Last Row Party” in conjunction with the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.
When Rossi’s late attempt to get into the Fast Nine Shootout on Saturday backfired and he instead qualified 32nd Sunday in the No. 27 NAPA Auto Parts Honda for Andretti Autosport, that meant Rahal’s No. 15 United Rentals Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing moved up to 30th.
So no “Last Row Party,” the 46th installment Thursday night at the IMS Pagoda, and that suited Rahal just fine.
“I’m definitely going to buy him a steak,” Rahal said of Rossi during Indy 500 Media Day on Thursday. “You don’t understand how my schedule is already so busy this month. I really wasn’t interested in attending a Last Row Party. I don’t care what it’s about. It was not on my bucket list of things I wanted to accomplish this month.”
When it appeared that Rahal might join Jack Harvey and Conor Daly for this gala, he couldn’t help but react at the sight of Rossi having a qualifying issue.
“I’m actually quite close to Alex,” Rahal said. “I wasn’t enjoying seeing him struggle. But when his times were coming down, I was thinking, ‘No, don’t get excited, don’t get excited, don’t get excited.’ Then bam, we jump up. I literally jumped so high, I think my head hit the roof in the truck. We’ve got our three transporters together, and the guys in the other truck are coming over and saying, ‘What are you doing?’ All the engineers were celebrating.
“You know being on the 10th row is a lot better than the 11th? It’s really not at all, but I did not want to go to the party, so it is better.”
Which ring?
Three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves of Team Penske was asked which winner’s ring he was wearing for this media function.
“It’s the most recent one,” he said of his 2009 victory.
Why?
“That’s what Rick Mears told me,” he said of the four-time Indy 500 winner who is Team Penske’s driving coach. “I asked him this question, and he said the same thing. Hey, if he won four and it worked, I’ll do the same thing.”
Sit down, rookie
Rookie Zachary Claman De Melo is ready to run the race right now. Claman De Melo, a 20-year-old Dale Coyne Racing driver, was so pumped up, he stood for his interviews while all the other drivers sat.
“My legs are starting to get tired,” he said, before being told there was a chair for him at the table. “I didn’t know we were allowed to sit, or I would have been there the whole time. I thought I had to stand for the interviews.”
Claman De Melo wasn’t even supposed to be here, earning the ride as a replacement driver for the injured Pietro Fittipaldi. Then Claman De Melo raised eyebrows by qualifying 13th in his No. 19 Paysafe Honda. But making his first Indy 500 wasn’t the most interesting achievement this week.
“Two days ago, I milked a cow for the first time,” he said. “I’ve milked a cow and driven a car 240 mph. It’s good luck. You have to do it.”
Coke and a smile
Simon Pagenaud’s certain sense of style was on display as the Team Penske driver drank from a Coca-Cola can with the word “leader” on the side.
The second-fastest qualifier has been getting a kick out of the special cans.
“Every day, I drink a Coke after practice because I like Coke,” he said. “After the INDYCAR Grand Prix, which was a really good race despite the result that doesn’t show it. I got a Coke that read: ‘champion.’ I took that Coke into the shower. It shows how much dedication I have.”
He’s also drank from a can with “superstar” on the side. So what is this all about?
“This is in your face,” he said, taking another swig and laughing about his swagger.
Pagenaud reassured that should he win the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, he would still observe the tradition of drinking milk in Victory Lane.
Who to beat?
One year after Castroneves lost a late-lap duel to Takuma Sato in the Indianapolis 500, the Brazilian was asked who he would want to face if this year’s race came down to two drivers.
“I want to be in a duel with whatever guy doesn’t have a chance,” Castroneves said, smiling. “Hopefully a rookie car.”
Will Power and Pagenaud mentioned four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing. And when asked what driver he wouldn’t want to face at the end, AJ Foyt Racing’s Tony Kanaan also said Dixon.
“Scott Dixon in Turn 4,” Kanaan said. “Out of way, man. I don’t want him. He’s too good.”
Rahal, never shy about needling a rival, nodded in the direction of the next table, occupied by Marco Andretti. Why would he not want to be in a duel with Andretti?
“I don’t want an Andretti to win this thing, that’s why,” Rahal said.