Indy 500

The third day of time trials for the 89th Indy 500 took place on Saturday. Positions 23-33 were up for grabs as positions 1-22 were filled last Sunday on Pole Day. Kenny Brack completed the fastest 4 lap qualifying average out of the 33 drivers to qualify this year, with a speed of 227.598, which was faster the Tony Kanaan's pole speed of 227.566, but since Kenny's run came on the 2nd day of time trials, he will start 23rd. I am just relieved that we are in the field,” said Brack, the 1998 IndyCar Series champion. “I am also glad for the team, obviously. They have had a real tough month. I guess they had faith in that I could do the job. And I am just thanking them for doing all of these things because it was a lot of fun to put the car in the eighth row.” 32 out of the 33 spots for the race were filled on Saturday.
http://www.indy500.com/news/story.php?story_id=4632

The 4th and final day of qualifying took place on Sunday, also known as "Bump Day," turned out to be quite exciting. Arie Luyendyk Jr., Son of two time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, was working on the setup for his car all day. Arie Jr. was looking to qualify for his first Indy 500, and when he went out for his qualifying attempt, he looked to be the only car looking to qualify for the race, making him the 33rd starter. Arie put up a 4 lap average of 215.039, which was the slowest in the field. Arie Jr. looked to be in the field, until A.J. Foyt pulled out a backup car and put Felipe Giaffone in line to qualify. Just 2 hours after shopping at Babies "R" Us with his wife, Felipe was in the cockpit of a plane red # 48 Toyota car. At 5: 45, Felipe went out for his qualifying run, and put up a four lap average of 217.645, which bumped Luyendyk Jr. from the field. But Luyendyk put his car back in line to qualify one more time before 6 p.m. when qualifying was over, and did not have enough to bump his way back in the field as his 4 lap average was 210.351 which was too slow to get him in the show.
http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/news/story.php?story_id=4648

What are the chances of Rahal-Letterman Racing repeating in the 2005 Indy 500? Well this question wont be answered until next Sunday, and as we have seen before, anything can happen in the 500, but the chances are looking good. Saturday, Kenny Brack, the 1999 Indy 500 winner and replacement driver for 2004 champion Buddy Rice who was injured in a practice crash, qualified the #15 Argent Pioneer Honda at a speed of 227.598, which was faster than the pole speed set by Tony Kanaan. But can Kenny do it? After almost loosing his life in a horrific accident in October of 2003 at Texas Motor Speedway, Can he come back in his first race back and run 500 miles and win the race? He will have a fast car, but he has to start 23rd, which means he will have to be patient and stay out of trouble if he wants to win the 500.
What about Rahals 2nd driver, the fastest female in 500 history, Danica Patrick, who qualified in the 4th spot at 227.004 after a bobble on the 2nd lap cause her a shot at the Pole. "We’re going to have to decide whether or not anyone goes any faster. Wheter or not it’s worth sacrificing a front row start or not. But I don’t know. I want to be on pole, so it is tough; it’s tough to decide.” Patrick said about going back out and trying for the pole. Now the best finish for a female in the Indy 500 was 11th by Lyn St. James in 1992, but Danica will look to break that record and break into history by becoming the first female to win the 500. Then theres Vitor Meira, maybe this years darkhorse of the field, who has never won an IRL event. Meira in the # 17 Menards Honda, qualified 7th position at 226.848. Meira, who is sometimes over shadowed by Rice and Patrick, and now Kenny Brack, may step out of the shadows and win this years Indy 500.