This Week in Auto Racing May 29 - 31
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - It's a "monstrous" weekend in Dover, DE as all three of NASCAR's national touring series race in America's first state. IndyCar is back on track in Milwaukee with the Indianapolis 500 now in the rear-view mirror.
Sprint Cup Series
Autism Speaks 400 - Dover International Speedway - Dover, DE
After a rain-soaked Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Sprint Cup Series teams take on the one-mile, concrete-surfaced Dover International Speedway - "The Monster Mile."
David Reutimann picked up first career Sprint Cup victory in the 600-mile event, cut short after 227 laps due to inclement weather.
Reutimann did not have the best car at Lowe's, but crew chief Rodney Childers made the triumphant call.
Kyle Busch, who dominated the race, led the way when the sixth and final caution came on lap 221 for rain. Reutimann ran in the 14th position at the time.
During the caution, Reutimann and Childers gambled, as Reutimann remained on the track and inherited the lead, several drivers, including Busch, came onto pit road. The strategy paid off when the red flag was displayed on lap 227 and NASCAR declared the race official hours later.
Reutimann led just the final five laps. His first win came in his 75th start.
The Michael Waltrip Racing driver moved up to 13th in the standings, only six points behind 12th-place Mark Martin. The top-12 drivers after the 26th race of the season (Richmond) qualify for the "Chase for the Sprint Cup" championship.
"We've been inside the top-12 a good portion of the season, and slipped back a ways," Reutimann said. "The only way you're going to get back in the hunt is to run well and finish well. We've run well the last couple weeks. We just haven't had the finishes to show for it."
Reutimann's best finish in three starts at Dover is 18th, which came last September. He finished 27th there one year ago.
Kyle Busch is the defending race winner. Busch made two superb pit stops late in the race before crossing the finish line four seconds ahead of Carl Edwards for his fourth Cup victory of the 2008 season. He has three wins so far this year.
Greg Biffle won at Dover last September. Biffle grabbed the lead from his Roush Fenway Racing teammate, Matt Kenseth, with eight laps to go and then held it for his second victory of the season. Kenseth, who led a race-high 136 laps, finished second. Carl Edwards came in third to give Roush a 1-2-3 finish at Dover. Biffle also won the prior week at New Hampshire, the first race the Chase.
"It was an exciting day, to say the least," Biffle said. A lot of people got to see great racing. Dover always puts on a great race. This place is so tough."
A Roush driver has won a Sprint Cup event at Dover the past five years - Mark Martin (2004), Biffle (2005 and '08), Kenseth (2006) and Edwards (2007).
Jimmie Johnson, the three-time defending series champion, won both races at Dover in 2002, becoming the first driver to sweep a track during his rookie season.
Ryan Newman is the last driver to sweep Dover. Newman accomplished the feat during the 2003 season. He also won there in September 2004.
Newman, in his first year with Stewart-Haas Racing, has been on a roll lately, scoring four straight top-five finishes
"For me personally, it's huge," Newman said. "It's a long time since I had four top fives in a row. The guys are doing a good job with Tony Gibson leading the group, obviously everybody at Stewart Haas. Same things I've always said, put ourselves in the right position at the right time, we'll get our win. But you can forget the jumping ship. That's in the past. We're talking about the present and the future. I'm happy to be doing what I'm doing. I look forward to Dover."
Newman's most recent win in the series came at last year's Daytona 500 when he drove for Penske Racing.
Forty-nine teams are on the preliminary entry list for this weekend's Autism Speaks 400.
During the winter, Dover underwent a pit-road renovation. The new 1,592-foot concrete wall extends from turn four down the frontstretch and into turn one. The construction allowed track officials to widen and improve pit road, which is now four feet wider. All 43 stalls are four feet longer than the previous length.
Nationwide Series
Heluva Good! 200 - Dover International Speedway - Dover, DE
The 2009 Nationwide Series championship is shaping up to be a good battle between Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards.
Busch's fourth-place finish compared to a 10th-place run for Edwards in last Saturday's rain-shortened Carquest Auto Parts 300 at Lowe's allowed Busch to pad his lead to 73 points.
Both drivers have performed well at Dover lately, with Edwards finishing third or better in the last five races there and Busch scoring top-10 finishes in three of the last four events. Edwards won the fall race at Dover in 2007, while Busch captured the victory there last September.
Mike Bliss moved up four positions to ninth in points (-480) after winning at Lowe's. Bliss scored his second career Nationwide victory. His first win came at that track in 2004 when he drove for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Bliss has also recorded three top-10 finishes in the last four races at Dover. He finished second to Busch in the 2008 fall event there.
NASCAR phenom Joey Logano made his Nationwide debut one year ago at Dover, finishing an impressive sixth. Currently fourth in points, Logano is not running a full Nationwide schedule since he is concentrating more on his Sprint Cup rookie season for Joe Gibbs Racing this year.
"There was a lot of hype surrounding my first Nationwide Series start," Logano said. "I wasn't immune to it, but pressure is something that has never bothered me. We are in a pressure sport, and if you can't take it you probably need to find something else to do."
The fourth generation of Earnhardts will be represented at Dover this weekend. Jeffrey Earnhardt, 19, will make his Nationwide debut, driving the No.31 Chevrolet for Rick Ware Racing. His father, Kerry, is Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s nephew.
Jeffrey Earnhardt is slated for seven races in the series this year, in preparation for a likely full-time schedule in 2010.
Forty-eight teams are on the preliminary entry list for this weekend's Heluva Good! 200.
Camping World Truck Series
AAA Insurance 200 - Dover International Speedway - Dover, DE
After winning the 200-mile race at Lowe's earlier this month, Ron Hornaday Jr. captured the points lead in the Camping World Truck Series. Hornaday moved atop the standings for the first time since last November at Phoenix. He currently holds an 84-point advantage over Mike Skinner.
Hornaday also took over the points lead after his first win at Lowe's in 2007. He went on to win at Dover two weeks later.
"After a win you always have momentum on your side," Hornaday said. "I have always felt this team thrives off winning. Our season up until Charlotte had not been bad. We have not finished outside the top-10 yet, so I would say that we kick started our season in Daytona, and we are just now showing our strength."
Hornaday won his third series championship and gave Kevin Harvick Inc. its first title in NASCAR competition in '07.
J.R. Fitzpatrick will team with Hornaday this weekend at Dover, as Fitzpatrick will run the first of his scheduled eight races in the No.4 Chevrolet for KHI. The Canadian driver will also compete in selected Nationwide events for Harvick's team this year.
"This is a great opportunity for me, and I firmly believe that I am joining the best team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series," Fitzpatrick said. "I believe racing is all about confidence, and I have that knowing that I am going to be in great equipment driving for Kevin Harvick Inc."
Ricky Carmichael drove the No.4 truck in the first five races this season before Ryan Newman took the wheel for the 200-mile event at Lowe's.
There have been nine different winners in as many truck races at Dover. Hornaday and Kyle Busch are the only previous winners in the field for this year's race. Busch is competing in all three NASCAR events this weekend.
Thirty-seven teams are on the preliminary entry list for the AAA Insurance 200.
INDYCAR SERIES
ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt Indy 225 - The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, WI
Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves kicked off a "Victory Tour" Tuesday in New York. Castroneves made several stops in The Big Apple, including an appearance on "Live With Regis and Kelly" and an event at Radio City Music Hall, where he performed a brief chorus line kick routine with several members of the Rockettes.
"This place is incredible," Castroneves said. "It's been a great way to celebrate my victory. I got to see the biggest theater in the world, surrounded by beautiful women."
Castroneves will also make stops in Fort Worth, TX and Chicago this week before heading to Milwaukee for Sunday's ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt Indy 225. He'll make an appearance on "The Late Show With David Letterman" on June 1.
Five weeks after his acquittal of federal income tax evasion charges, Castroneves won the Indy 500 for the third time in his career. He had a spectacular month at Indy by capturing the pole and pacing the way in practices before winning IndyCar's biggest race of the year. Castroneves earned a record $3,048,005 for his Indy 500 victory.
Despite missing the season-opener at St. Petersburg, FL due to his trial, Castroneves has now moved to within five points of leader Dario Franchitti.
Castroneves has won two poles at The Milwaukee Mile (2006 and '07), but has finished no better than fifth since the series started racing there in 2004.
Ryan Briscoe, who is Castroneves' teammate at Penske Racing, scored his first career IndyCar victory in last year's race at Milwaukee. After a fast pit stop late in the event, Briscoe captured the lead for the first time with 19 laps to go. He then held off Scott Dixon before the race ended under caution for a four-car crash.
Tony Kanaan is the only repeat winner at Milwaukee. Kanaan's victories came the same years that Castroneves started on the pole there. He finished third in last year's race.
Kanaan crashed hard into the turn three wall at Indy after his car experienced mechanical failure midway through the race. Kanaan suffered soft tissue damage on his ribs from the incident. He also complained of soreness in his right leg.
"I am racing in Milwaukee no matter what," Kanaan said.
Meanwhile, Paul Tracy, the 2003 Champ Car World Series champion, will replace the injured Vitor Meira in the No.14 car for A.J. Foyt Racing at Milwaukee. Tracy is coming off a ninth-place finish in the Indy 500, driving an entry for KV Racing Technology.
"I'm excited to get an opportunity to drive, albeit as a fill-in for Vitor as I know it's a short-term thing," Tracy said. "When I started my career (1991), I competed against A.J. He was one of my idols growing up."
Meira suffered two fractured vertebrae in his back during a horrifying crash in turn one late in the Indy 500. Rookie Raphael Matos was also involved in the incident, but he did not sustain any injuries. Meira is expected to be released from an Indianapolis hospital on Wednesday. He will likely be cleared by doctors to fly home to South Florida this weekend. According to Dr. Michael Olinger, Indy Racing League's director of medical services, a non-operative management program (torso brace) was implemented.
Auto Racing Glance
Autism Speaks 400 - Dover International Speedway - Dover, DE
Site: Dover, Del.
Schedule: Friday, practice (Speed, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.), qualifying (Speed, 3-4:30 p.m.; Saturday, practice (Speed, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.); Sunday, race, 2 p.m. (Fox, 1:30-6 p.m.).
Track: Dover International Speedway (1-mile concrete oval).
Race distance: 400 miles, 400 laps.
Last year: Kyle Busch won the fourth of his eight 2008 Sprint Cup victories for Joe Gibbs Racing, beating Roush Fenway's Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle.
Last week: David Reutimann won the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway for his first Sprint Cup victory, taking the lead under caution after the first 13 cars pitted. The race, run Monday after being washed out Sunday, was cut from 400 to 227 laps. Reutimann gave Michael Waltrip Racing its first Cup win - the first for a Toyota team other than Joe Gibbs Racing. Ryan Newman was second.
Fast facts: The event is the 13th of the season, the halfway mark in the race for the 12 spots in the 2009 Chase. Jeff Gordon leads the points standings with 1,722, followed by Tony Stewart (1,678), Kurt Busch (1,607), Jimmie Johnson (1,594), Denny Hamlin (1,575), Kyle Busch (1,540) and Newman (1,538). ... Kyle Busch has a series-high three victories, winning at Las Vegas, Bristol and Richmond. ... Biffle won the 2008 fall race at Dover. ... Edwards, the series leader last year with nine victories, is winless this season. He was a season-best third at Atlanta. Roush Fenway Racing has won two of the last three Dover races and has eight wins overall at the track. ... Martin Truex Jr., from Mayetta, N.J., won the 2007 spring race for his first Cup victory. He also has two Nationwide wins at the track. ... Gordon and Mark Martin lead active drivers with four Dover victories.
Next race: Pocono 500, June 7, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.
Heluva Good! 200 - Dover International Speedway - Dover, DE
Site: Dover, Del.
Schedule: Friday, practice (Speed, 1-2:30 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed, 10-11:30 a.m.; Saturday, race, 2:30 p.m. (ABC, 2-5 p.m.).
Track: Dover International Speedway (1-mile concrete oval).
Race distance: 200 miles, 200 laps.
Last year: Denny Hamlin won for Joe Gibbs Racing, leading 131 of the 200 laps. Carl Edwards was second, 1.072 seconds back.
Last week: Mike Bliss raced to his second career Nationwide Series victory, winning the rain-shortened event at Lowe's Motor Speedway under caution. Bliss also won the October 2004 race at the track.
Fast facts: Kyle Busch, the winner this year in California, Texas and Richmond, won the 2008 fall race at Dover. He leads the season standings with 1,714 points, followed by Edwards (1,641), Jason Leffler (1,541), Joey Logano (1,495) and Brad Keselowski (1,473). ... Jeffrey Earnhardt, the 19-year-old son of Kerry Earnhardt, is attempting to make his NASCAR national series debut. The fourth-generation driver and Dale Earnhardt grandson will drive the No. 31 Chevrolet for Rick Ware Racing. ... Logano was sixth last year at Dover in his first NASCAR national series start. ... Greg Biffle has victories this year in Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Next race: Federated Auto Parts 300, June 6, Nashville Superspeedway, Gladeville, Tenn.
AAA Insurance 200 - Dover International Speedway - Dover, DE
Site: Dover, Del.
Schedule: Friday, qualifying; race, 5 p.m. (Speed, 8-11 p.m.).
Track: Dover International Speedway (concrete mile oval).
Race distance: 200 miles, 200 laps.
Last year: Scott Speed raced to his first series win in his sixth career start. Jack Sprague was second and Ron Hornaday Jr. finished third.
Last race: Hornaday won for the record 40th time in the Trucks Series, holding off Kyle Busch on May 15 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Fast facts: Busch, the winner this year at California and Atlanta, has led a series-high 285 of the 847 laps run. He won the 2005 race at Dover. ... Hornaday, the 2007 winner, leads the season standings with 966. Kansas winner Mike Skinner is second at 882, followed by Matt Crafton (877) and Busch (852). ... Canadian J.R. Fitzpatrick is driving the No. 4 Chevrolet for Kevin Harvick Inc.
Next race: WinStar World Casino 400, June 5, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas.
ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt Indy 225 - The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, WI
Site: West Allis, Wis.
Schedule: Saturday, practice, qualifying; Sunday, race 3:50 p.m. (ABC, 3:30-6 p.m.).
Track: The Milwaukee Mile (mile oval).
Race distance: 225 miles, 225 laps.
Last year: Australia's Ryan Briscoe gave owner Roger Penske his 300th racing win, holding off New Zealand's Scott Dixon.
Last week: Helio Castroneves became the ninth three-time Indianapolis 500 champion, winning 5 1/2 weeks after being acquitted of most charges in a tax evasion trial. The Brazilian gave Penske his record 15th Indy win. Dan Wheldon was second, and Danica Patrick finished third.
Fast facts: After missing the season-opening race at St. Petersburg, Castroneves was seventh in Long Beach and second in Kansas before winning at Indianapolis. He's second in the season standings, five points behind Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Dario Franchitti - the Long Beach winner. ... Tony Kanaan swept the 2006-07 races for Andretti Green. ... Patrick has three straight top-10 finishes in Milwaukee. ... Four-time Milwaukee winner Paul Tracy will drive the No. 14 A.J. Foyt Racing entry, replacing the injured Vitor Meira. Tracy was ninth at Indy for KV Racing. Meira broke two vertebrae in the 500. ... The Firestone Indy Lights race - the Husar's House of Fine Diamonds 100 - also is Sunday.
Next race: Bombardier Learjet 550k, June 6, Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas.
Tracy, Foyt giving IRL unified voice in Milwaukee
May 27, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -A.J. Foyt speaks his mind - politically correct or not.
He still refers to today's IndyCar drivers affectionately as ``boys,'' still prefers the good old days when sponsorship money was secondary to driver ingenuity and, yes, still likes the straight talkers.
Like 40-year-old Paul Tracy, Foyt's replacement for the injured Vitor Meira.
Foyt hired Tracy on Tuesday, giving the mouths of the Indy Racing League a chance to run together this weekend in Milwaukee.
I think I've got the same reputation, so that makes us get along real good that way,'' Foyt said during a conference call Wednesday.
Actually, it may take Foyt back in time.
Tracy grew up in Canada idolizing the four-time Indy winner, hoping to match Foyt's wit, success and even his penchant for talking. They raced against each other early in Tracy's career, late in Foyt's, and through the years, Tracy has done his best to live up to Foyt's image.
Every word of it.
He has 31 career victories, a 2003 Champ Car points title and dabbled in stock cars.
Those outspoken comments are the result of a simple philosophy that Foyt understands well - don't trade passion and honesty for persuasion and sensibility.
Perhaps that is why Tracy calls himself the 2002 Indianapolis 500 winner, though he wound up second in a disputed finish, and once called Roger Penske's decision to fire him a career-ending move.
Time, though, has changed Tracy.
When Foyt offered him a chance to replace Meira in Milwaukee, Tracy took the one-race deal. That's a long way from the time Tracy was seeking a full-time gig and said he wouldn't race for hamburgers and hot dogs.
I think I've calmed down a lot as a driver since '03 and I think I'm a little easier to work with,'' he said. Look at Sunday. Even though the car wasn't too good, I didn't try to take too much. It's important to get the momentum up and spirits up for this team.''
Yes, Foyt's team needs a boost after last weekend's scare.
Meira locked wheels with rookie Raphael Matos late in Sunday's Indianapolis 500, and the collision sent both cars spinning into the wall. Meira's flipped on its side and slid down the track - two wheels on the ground and two above the concrete wall - before finally landing on all four wheels and rolling to a stop.
Meira broke two vertebrae in his back and spent three nights in an Indianapolis hospital before being released Wednesday. He is expected to miss four months.
But when Foyt explained what happened, it came straight from Tracy's textbook.
We made a mistake with Vitor or he wouldn't have been in that big wreck if we hadn't made the mistake,'' Foyt said. ``I blame my crew, and I'm like Paul, I speak my mind and we made a mistake.''
Mistake or mishap, Meira's injury opened up a seat for Tracy.
Foyt's son, Larry, made the initial contact and then in a scene that only Tracy could script, he continued the discussion in Houston after making a detour on his trip home. Tracy was driving west when he found a listing for a 1964 Lincoln Continental.
When he arrived, it didn't take much to convince the two how much they had in common.
It's black on black,'' Tracy said when he was asked about the color.
Black on black, just like me,'' Foyt responded.
So what will this weekend be like?
If Foyt is on the radio, as he plans, Tracy will almost certainly get an earful of advice. But Tracy may not respond the way he traditionally has.
I've looked up to A.J. as a driver and a personality my whole career,'' Tracy said. ``I think we'll work well together.''
Tracy also likes the face he'll be running at a track he likes.
Wisconsin has a big Tracy fanbase, and Tracy has rewarded them with strong results at the Milwaukee Mile.
Another good performance could open the door for a longer-term deal between Foyt and Tracy, who is committed to driving two other races for another team.
Meira hopes to return for the season finale at Homestead, Fla.
Otherwise, it's Tracy's ride to lose - and that's not something he likes to talk about.
The biggest challenge for me when I'm not racing is I get mad about it,'' Tracy said. ``It's tough to get motivated and work out when there's nothing on the horizon. I'm just grateful for the opportunity, and I think it will be a good weekend.''
Wheldon's move to smaller Panther team paying off
May 27, 2009
When Dan Wheldon walked away from a ride with powerful Target Chip Ganassi Racing to sign with second-tier Panther Racing for 2009 there were murmurs in the garage that he had taken a wrong turn.
That speculation just made his runner-up finish in last Sunday's Indianapolis 500 more gratifying.
I'm incredibly proud of the Panther Racing team,'' Wheldon said after the race. ``In my IndyCar Series career there's not many races where I've honestly left the track feeling that we've executed everything perfectly, and I have to say I thought they did an absolute phenomenal job. The pit stops were just first class (and) I didn't have to do too much work on track because they kept making me spots.''
Still, it was surprising when the 2005 Indy winner and series champion with Andretti Green Racing decided to leave Ganassi, which won last year's 500 and series title with Scott Dixon, for Panther.
That team was once a powerhouse, too, with Sam Hornish Jr. winning championships in 2001 and 2002. But without a win since Tomas Scheckter reached Victory Lane at Texas in 2005, those days were little more than a memory for a team trying to beat big, well-funded outfits like Ganassi, Penske Racing and AGR.
Wheldon, who drove briefly for Panther in 2002 as he was starting his IndyCar career, had a so-so season in 2008 by Ganassi standards.
The English driver won twice, had 10 top-five finishes, but wound up fourth in the points, making him the likely odd-man-out if Ganassi made a driver change.
Mike Griffin, co-owner of the Panther team, said it was Wheldon who contacted the team about a possible ride.
His manager called and asked if (co-owner) John (Barnes) would be willing to talk about a ride for 2009,'' Griffin said. ``We thought he was talking about an Indy Lights driver and said, 'Sure.' Then it was Dan who called.''
Wheldon said he told Barnes how impressed he was with what the team was doing with its limited resources.
I could see they had a lot of talent and a lot of energy,'' Wheldon said.
So far, the move has been good for both the driver and the team.
Since a disappointing 14th-place finish in the season-opener at St. Petersburg, the 30-year-old Wheldon has finished fifth at Long Beach, 10th at Kansas and second at Indy. He goes to Milwaukee this week seventh in the season standings.
I really am enjoying racing with this team,'' Wheldon said. ``Being a one-car team, there's a lot of responsibility on me, and I like that part of it. I'm looking forward to really growing and being a big part of the team.
Everybody on this team wants to get back into Victory Lane. They won championships and races, but it's a team that hasn't been that strong for a couple of years. Now, everybody is ready to get back on top.''
Griffin said the team has been very impressed with what Wheldon has brought on board.
It's been awesome. He's the leader,'' Griffin said. ``He's definitely the guy and everybody has stepped up. This is a team that has a whole lot less resources than some of the other teams, but everything is going in the right direction.''
After Wheldon's brief debut with Panther, he spent the next three seasons with the Andretti team before moving to Ganassi.
They're all very, very different,'' Wheldon said of the three teams. ``Panther is obviously a smaller operation, being a one-car team, and some people say it's more of like a family type atmosphere. But, what some people tend to miss is that the people at Panther are incredibly driven.
There's a hunger, a lot of motivation, and I thrive off that.''
A win or two this season would be a big boost for both driver and team.
I have no doubt that this team is capable of winning races, and the team believes we can win,'' Wheldon said. ``We just have to show people we can get it done.''
Trucks Series race washed out
May 29, 2009
DOVER, Del. (AP) -The trucks race scheduled at Dover International Speedway was postponed because of rain and has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday.
Friday's race was washed out after about 40 minutes. It was rescheduled for Saturday after the Nationwide Series race.
Ron Hornaday Jr. won the pole in qualifying. He ran a lap of 155.541 mph for his 21st pole in 232 career trucks races. He earned his second pole of the season.
Colin Braun, Brian Scott, Johnny Sauter and Chad McCumbee round out the top five.
Logano nabs pole for Dover Nationwide race
Dover, DE (Sports Network) - Joey Logano will start on the pole for Saturday's Heluva Good! 200 Nationwide Series race after turning in the fastest lap in qualifying at Dover International Speedway.
Logano circled the one-mile track at 155.959 m.p.h. (23.083 seconds) in his No.20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota for his first pole of the season and the fourth of his Nationwide career.
"This is the first time I've ever won anything here," Logano said. "I ran the Camping World East Series races, and I never won a thing."
Logano made his Nationwide debut at Dover one year ago, finishing an impressive sixth. He became the youngest series pole winner at Dover six days after he turned 19 years old. Logano is now a rookie competitor in the Sprint Cup Series.
David Ragan will start on the outside pole after recording a lap of 154.500 m.p.h. (23.201 seconds).
Kyle Busch will roll off third, followed by Scott Speed and Kevin Harvick.
Ryan Newman, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, rookie Brendan Gaughan and Paul Menard will start sixth through 10th, respectively.
Jeffrey Earnhardt was the only driver who failed to qualify. Earnhardt was attempting to make his first career Nationwide start, driving for Rick Ware Racing. His father, Kerry, is Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s nephew.
Today's race is schedule to start around 2:30 p.m. (et).
Sore Kanaan ignoring pain in race car
May 30, 2009
WEST ALLIS, Wis. (AP) -It's only 225 miles, but Sunday's IndyCar Series race at the Milwaukee Mile could feel like the longest of Tony Kanaan's career.
Kanaan was limping noticeably Saturday after qualifying his Andretti Green Racing No. 11 with a four-lap average of 167.793 mph, good for third in the 20-car lineup for Sunday's A.J. Foyt 225.
The Brazilian has been black and blue and in lots of pain since a broken suspension sent his car careening into the concrete wall last Sunday during the Indianapolis 500. Kanaan bounced off the first hard hit and then, with no steering or brakes, slammed into the wall again at more than 180 mph.
Everything is bothering me,'' Kanaan said, grinning ruefully. ``The ribs on my back, and my ankle and my femur are pretty sore. They are sore on the right side and we lean on (that side) every lap, so it's pretty much everything is hurting. It's like when you have an injury and everybody keeps pressing at that spot, that's what I'm going to have to deal with tomorrow for 225 laps.''
The 34-year-old Kanaan said the Indy crash was the hardest he's ever had, although he has twice had broken arms and once broke seven ribs in crashes.
But I remember after those crashes I spent four days in the hospital with a button and a lot of morphine on it,'' he said. ``This time, I crashed and I got released 20 minutes later. So, for sure, it's been the biggest one with the least amount of injuries.''
And, even in pain, Kanaan, the acknowledged leader of the team that also employs Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti and Hideki Mutoh, had each of his teammates approach him for qualifying advice after he struggled out of his car.
They said, 'Can you say something to your teammates?' and I said, 'Yeah, when I get out of the car.' I couldn't breathe (in the car),'' Kanaan said. ``Qualifying is already (all) adrenaline, and then it takes your breath away because you're trying to put laps together. On top of that, I couldn't breathe at all because of the G-loads. It was not pleasant, but it was nice to put at least a decent lap together.''
Looking ahead to race day, Kanaan shrugged.
Although I look bad, looks like I cannot do even 10 laps, you watch, tomorrow will be fun,'' he said.
OUT OF MY WAY: Paul Tracy has always been known as an aggressive, hard-nosed driver, but the longtime open-wheel star says the current crop of young guns is cut from a different cloth.
I think the attitudes of these drivers has changed,'' said Tracy, who is subbing this week for injured Vitor Meira in A.J. Foyt's No. 14 entry. ``When I came up, when I first started, I didn't say nothing to anybody. I looked down. You know, I saw A.J., Rick (Mears), Mario (Andretti), I'd look down at the ground like a scared dog.''
He said the current drivers don't lack for confidence and rarely back down, whether they are right or wrong.
I think if I did some of the stuff that goes on on the tracks today at the age of some of these young kids, running guys down into the grass and into the pit wall, I mean, if I did that when I was 21, 22 years old to a guy like A.J. or Mario, they'd come down and pull me behind the garage and kick the crap out of me,'' Tracy said
The 40-year-old Canadian, who leads all active drivers with 31 open-wheel wins, says everyone is driving aggressively.
You know, they're fighting for 14th position like it's a win,'' he said,'' like it's the last lap, but it's the beginning of the race.''
GETTING ACQUAINTED: IndyCar rookie Mike Conway's first look at the Milwaukee Mile was from the back seat of a two-seated IndyCar driven by Dreyer & Reinbold Racing teammate Davey Hamilton.
Hamilton, who drove for the team at Indianapolis, but is sitting out the Milwaukee race, gave Conway a lesson in how to drive the flat one-mile oval.
It's definitely different coming to Milwaukee after running at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway all month long,'' said the 25-year-old Englishman, who finished 18th last Sunday in the Indy 500.
Davey showed me what lines you can run and pointed out things like bumps in the pit lane, pit entry, pit out and bumps on the track,'' Conway said. ``... It looks like it's going to be good fun racing because you've got a racing line that you run, but you can also run tighter as well, if you need to overtake.''
He was 11th in qualifying.
SPARK PLUGS: Rookie Stanton Barrett crashed in practice Saturday and, with no backup car, will miss Sunday's race. ... The last five winners of the Indianapolis 500 have gone on to finish second at the Milwaukee Mile. ... This is the 50th time - although not in consecutive years - that the race at the Milwaukee Mile has followed the Indy 500 on the schedule.