Rain Douses PRA Opener/ Rinse, Wash and Repeat/ Squirrel Killed at Indy/ Knoxville Comes to Indy/ Dale Earnhardt Jr. Must Like Catfights/ TV Listings
Rain Douses PRA Opener
The Premier Racing Association inaugural Big Car Series event was washed out last night following qualifying at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Dave Steele grabbed the pole before the rains came and Brian Tyler was second fastest. According to my sources that attended the race, a decent crowd was on hand to watch the 26 cars entered. According to the PRA, tickets for last night’s event will be honored at the upcoming race at IRP on July 5th. The sanctioning organization will announce a rescheduled date on their website www.praracing.com.
Rinse, Wash and Repeat
The man from Defiance, Ohio, Sam Hornish, Jr. was once again the fastest car at Indy. Hornish turned a top speed of 224.951. His teammate, Helio Castroneves was second quick at 224.437. Dan Weldon was again third quick 222.616. Danica Patrick was 11th quick at 220.900.
Oh yea, the practice sessions were delayed by the dreaded R word, rain.
Indy 500 Practice:
1 Sam Hornish Jr (6) 224.9512 Helio Castroneves (3T) 224.4373 Dan Wheldon (10T) 222.6164 Scott Dixon (9T) 222.4615 Scott Sharp (8) 222.4256 Jeff Simmons (17) 221.7167 Tony Kanaan (11) 221.7078 Townsend Bell (90) 221.3299 Tomas Scheckter (2) 221.29910 Vitor Meira (4T) 221.1811 Danica Patrick (16T) 220.912 Dario Franchitti (27) 220.76513 Buddy Rice (15T) 220.13714 Ed Carpenter (20) 220.10615 Kosuke Matsuura (55) 219.97516 Michael Andretti (1) 219.89817 Marco Andretti (26) 219.6218 Bryan Herta (7) 218.59319 Max Papis (52) 218.33120 Felipe Giaffone (14) 218.1121 Jaques Lazier (21) 217.22522 Buddy Lazier (5) 216.90623 Thiago Medeiros (18) 216.79124 Eddie Cheever Jr (51) 216.78225 Al Unser Jr (31) 216.28326 PJ Chesson (91) 215.53727 Stephan Gregoire (97) 214.26728 Marty Roth (25) 212.30429 Airton Dare (88) 211.43230 Jon Herb (12) 203.62931 Arie Luyendyk Jr (61) 138.857
Max Papis is Back
Max Papis will drive the Cheever Racing entry at the Indianapolis 500. Papis was 19th quick on his first day back in an IndyCar.
Rookies Hit the Wall at Indy
Arie Luyendyk made contact with the wall causing damage to his car. Thiago Medeiros hit the turn one wall hard. He was also able to walk away to the safety vehicle. Soon after the caution for his accident, the rain again came to Indy.
Squirrel Killed at Indy
I am sad to report that a squirrel was killed Wednesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The on track incident caused a caution period. The last time a critter was struck at IMS was 1987 when Al Unser Jr. struck a rabbit.
Knoxville Comes to Indy
Knoxville Raceway officials have scheduled a news conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for next Thursday. The newsconference is scheduled to include Geoff Dodge, Bruce Neimeth and Tom Schmeh from Knoxville Raceway, Shane Carson from the World of Outlaws and Tom Eakins from Ticket Director. The group is scheduled to discuss the “Knoxville Nationals Fast Track to Indy Rookie of the Year” program.
Sixteen drivers and seventeen cars are entered for the Freedom 100 at Indy.
Freedom 100 Entries:
1 Wade Cunningham
2 Matthew Hamilton (R)
3 Brett Van Blankers (R)
6 Jon Herb
7 Jay Howard (R)
8 Mishael Abbott
9 Tom Wieringa (R)
11 Jaime Camara
24 Bobby Wilson (R)
25 TBA
26 Alex Lloyd (R)
27 Jonathan Klein (R)
33 Geoff Dodge (R)
41 Sean Guthrie (R)
42 Tom Wood
51 Chris Festa
52 Nick Bussell
Big Weekend in NASCARLand for Open Wheelers
Open Wheelers will make a big impact over the next week at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and I am not talking about the big paved oval. The USAC National Sprint and Midget Series are scheduled to race at the speedway’s dirt track on Sunday May 21st. The World of Outlaws Sprint Series is scheduled to race at CLT on the 24th.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Must Like Catfights
Speaking on ESPN’s “Budweiser Hot Seat” segment on last night’s edition of Sports Center, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he thinks girlfriends should be allowed in the pit boxes at races.
The person asking Jr. the questions referred to Greg Biffle's girlfriend, Nicole Lunders and her confrontation with Kurt Busch's fiancée, Eva Bryan at Texas earlier this spring. To that Earnhardt responded, “It was fun to watch.” The incident never turned into anything more than a verbal spat. Nicole Lunders went to Busch’s pit to talk with Eva Bryan following a wreck between Biffle and Busch. Nicole Lunders and Eva Bryan are friends and have no problems with each other, Launders was just upset at the moment because she feared for her boyfriend’s safety.
Erin Crocker Still Leads Race Babe Poll
Erin Crocker is still has a sizable lead in the “Race Babe poll with a growing 32% of the votes a we turn into the home stretch. Speed’s Connie LeGrand and Krista Voda along with Champ Car World Series hostess,
Michelle Biesner and Kevin Harvick’s wife DeLana Harvick are all tied for second with 9% each. You can still vote from not until the Indy 500 by going to http://openwheeler.blogspot.com/ and scrolling to the bottom of the page. Click on this link http://openwheeler.blogspot.com/2006/04/who-is-your-favorite-race-babe.html to view all of the candidates.
Media News
Since the next two weeks are going to be quite busy with racing, I decided to give you an early version of TV Listings that will take you from now through the Indy 500 weekend. Enjoy.
TV Listings
May 18
4:30 pm SportsCenter at the 500 ESPN2
8:00 pm Larry Mac's All-Star Barbecue SPEED
May 19
12:00 pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Final Practice All-Star Weekend (LIVE) SPEED
4:00 pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying Charlotte (LIVE) SPEED
5:30 pm SportsCenter at the 500 ESPN2
6:00 pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Qualifying All-Star Weekend (LIVE) SPEED
8:30 pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Charlotte (LIVE) SPEED
May 20
4:00 pm Nextel Pit Crew Challenge SPEED
4:30 pm SportsCenter at Indy ESPN2
5:00 pm Belated Pole Day Qualifying (LIVE) ESPN
5:30 pm NASCAR RaceDay NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge (LIVE) SPEED
7:00 pm All- Star Pre-Race Show FX
7:30 NEXTEL Open / NASCAR NEXTEL ALL-STAR Challenge FX
7:00 pm Speed News SPEED
8:30 pm Formula One Spanish Grand Prix SPEED
11:00 pm NASCAR Victory Lane NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge SPEED
May 21
1:00 pm Bump Day Qualifying (LIVE) ABC
4:30 pm ARCA RE/MAX Series Toledo (SDD) SPEED
5:00 pm Bump Day Qualifying (LIVE) ESPN2.
7:00 pm Speed News SPEED
9:00 pm Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain Kevin Harvick (LIVE) SPEED
May 25
4:30 pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Practice Charlotte (SDD) SPEED
7:00 pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Qualifying Charlotte (LIVE) SPEED
9:00 pm NASCAR Busch Qualifying Charlotte (LIVE) SPEED
May 26
3:00 pm Highlights from Miller Lite Carb Day Practice, the Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Challenge and Freedom 100 ESPN2.May 27
2:00 pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Mansfield (LIVE) SPEED
4:30pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Practice (LIVE) SPEED
6:00 pm 500 Festival Parade ESPN2
7:30 pm NASCAR Busch Series Lowe’s Motor Speedway (LIVE) FX
7:30 pm Speed News SPEED
May 28
12:00 pm Indy 500 Pre-race show (LIVE) ABC
1:00 pm The 90th Indianapolis 500 (LIVE) ABC
The broadcast team of Race Day host Brent Musburger, lead announcer Marty Reid, analysts Rusty Wallace and Scott Goodyear, and pit reporters Jack Arute, Dr. Jerry Punch and Jaime Little will cover all of the stories from Indianapolis.
3:00 pm NASCAR Raceday SPEED
5:00 pm NASCAR Cup Series Lowe’s Motor Speedway (LIVE) FOX
7:00 pm Speed News SPEED
9:00 pm Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain (LIVE) SPEED
11:00 pm NASCAR Victory Lane NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge SPEED
Images appearing in this blog courtesy of FOX, FX, NASCAR Images, Indy Racing League, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IMS Productions, ABC, SPEED and the respective nominee’s websites.
The Premier Racing Association inaugural Big Car Series event was washed out last night following qualifying at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Dave Steele grabbed the pole before the rains came and Brian Tyler was second fastest. According to my sources that attended the race, a decent crowd was on hand to watch the 26 cars entered. According to the PRA, tickets for last night’s event will be honored at the upcoming race at IRP on July 5th. The sanctioning organization will announce a rescheduled date on their website www.praracing.com.
Rinse, Wash and Repeat
The man from Defiance, Ohio, Sam Hornish, Jr. was once again the fastest car at Indy. Hornish turned a top speed of 224.951. His teammate, Helio Castroneves was second quick at 224.437. Dan Weldon was again third quick 222.616. Danica Patrick was 11th quick at 220.900.
Oh yea, the practice sessions were delayed by the dreaded R word, rain.
Indy 500 Practice:
1 Sam Hornish Jr (6) 224.9512 Helio Castroneves (3T) 224.4373 Dan Wheldon (10T) 222.6164 Scott Dixon (9T) 222.4615 Scott Sharp (8) 222.4256 Jeff Simmons (17) 221.7167 Tony Kanaan (11) 221.7078 Townsend Bell (90) 221.3299 Tomas Scheckter (2) 221.29910 Vitor Meira (4T) 221.1811 Danica Patrick (16T) 220.912 Dario Franchitti (27) 220.76513 Buddy Rice (15T) 220.13714 Ed Carpenter (20) 220.10615 Kosuke Matsuura (55) 219.97516 Michael Andretti (1) 219.89817 Marco Andretti (26) 219.6218 Bryan Herta (7) 218.59319 Max Papis (52) 218.33120 Felipe Giaffone (14) 218.1121 Jaques Lazier (21) 217.22522 Buddy Lazier (5) 216.90623 Thiago Medeiros (18) 216.79124 Eddie Cheever Jr (51) 216.78225 Al Unser Jr (31) 216.28326 PJ Chesson (91) 215.53727 Stephan Gregoire (97) 214.26728 Marty Roth (25) 212.30429 Airton Dare (88) 211.43230 Jon Herb (12) 203.62931 Arie Luyendyk Jr (61) 138.857
Max Papis is Back
Max Papis will drive the Cheever Racing entry at the Indianapolis 500. Papis was 19th quick on his first day back in an IndyCar.
Rookies Hit the Wall at Indy
Arie Luyendyk made contact with the wall causing damage to his car. Thiago Medeiros hit the turn one wall hard. He was also able to walk away to the safety vehicle. Soon after the caution for his accident, the rain again came to Indy.
Squirrel Killed at Indy
I am sad to report that a squirrel was killed Wednesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The on track incident caused a caution period. The last time a critter was struck at IMS was 1987 when Al Unser Jr. struck a rabbit.
Knoxville Comes to Indy
Knoxville Raceway officials have scheduled a news conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for next Thursday. The newsconference is scheduled to include Geoff Dodge, Bruce Neimeth and Tom Schmeh from Knoxville Raceway, Shane Carson from the World of Outlaws and Tom Eakins from Ticket Director. The group is scheduled to discuss the “Knoxville Nationals Fast Track to Indy Rookie of the Year” program.
Sixteen drivers and seventeen cars are entered for the Freedom 100 at Indy.
Freedom 100 Entries:
1 Wade Cunningham
2 Matthew Hamilton (R)
3 Brett Van Blankers (R)
6 Jon Herb
7 Jay Howard (R)
8 Mishael Abbott
9 Tom Wieringa (R)
11 Jaime Camara
24 Bobby Wilson (R)
25 TBA
26 Alex Lloyd (R)
27 Jonathan Klein (R)
33 Geoff Dodge (R)
41 Sean Guthrie (R)
42 Tom Wood
51 Chris Festa
52 Nick Bussell
Big Weekend in NASCARLand for Open Wheelers
Open Wheelers will make a big impact over the next week at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and I am not talking about the big paved oval. The USAC National Sprint and Midget Series are scheduled to race at the speedway’s dirt track on Sunday May 21st. The World of Outlaws Sprint Series is scheduled to race at CLT on the 24th.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Must Like Catfights
Speaking on ESPN’s “Budweiser Hot Seat” segment on last night’s edition of Sports Center, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he thinks girlfriends should be allowed in the pit boxes at races.
The person asking Jr. the questions referred to Greg Biffle's girlfriend, Nicole Lunders and her confrontation with Kurt Busch's fiancée, Eva Bryan at Texas earlier this spring. To that Earnhardt responded, “It was fun to watch.” The incident never turned into anything more than a verbal spat. Nicole Lunders went to Busch’s pit to talk with Eva Bryan following a wreck between Biffle and Busch. Nicole Lunders and Eva Bryan are friends and have no problems with each other, Launders was just upset at the moment because she feared for her boyfriend’s safety.
Erin Crocker Still Leads Race Babe Poll
Erin Crocker is still has a sizable lead in the “Race Babe poll with a growing 32% of the votes a we turn into the home stretch. Speed’s Connie LeGrand and Krista Voda along with Champ Car World Series hostess,
Michelle Biesner and Kevin Harvick’s wife DeLana Harvick are all tied for second with 9% each. You can still vote from not until the Indy 500 by going to http://openwheeler.blogspot.com/ and scrolling to the bottom of the page. Click on this link http://openwheeler.blogspot.com/2006/04/who-is-your-favorite-race-babe.html to view all of the candidates.
Media News
Since the next two weeks are going to be quite busy with racing, I decided to give you an early version of TV Listings that will take you from now through the Indy 500 weekend. Enjoy.
TV Listings
May 18
4:30 pm SportsCenter at the 500 ESPN2
8:00 pm Larry Mac's All-Star Barbecue SPEED
May 19
12:00 pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Final Practice All-Star Weekend (LIVE) SPEED
4:00 pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying Charlotte (LIVE) SPEED
5:30 pm SportsCenter at the 500 ESPN2
6:00 pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Qualifying All-Star Weekend (LIVE) SPEED
8:30 pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Charlotte (LIVE) SPEED
May 20
4:00 pm Nextel Pit Crew Challenge SPEED
4:30 pm SportsCenter at Indy ESPN2
5:00 pm Belated Pole Day Qualifying (LIVE) ESPN
5:30 pm NASCAR RaceDay NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge (LIVE) SPEED
7:00 pm All- Star Pre-Race Show FX
7:30 NEXTEL Open / NASCAR NEXTEL ALL-STAR Challenge FX
7:00 pm Speed News SPEED
8:30 pm Formula One Spanish Grand Prix SPEED
11:00 pm NASCAR Victory Lane NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge SPEED
May 21
1:00 pm Bump Day Qualifying (LIVE) ABC
4:30 pm ARCA RE/MAX Series Toledo (SDD) SPEED
5:00 pm Bump Day Qualifying (LIVE) ESPN2.
7:00 pm Speed News SPEED
9:00 pm Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain Kevin Harvick (LIVE) SPEED
May 25
4:30 pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Practice Charlotte (SDD) SPEED
7:00 pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Qualifying Charlotte (LIVE) SPEED
9:00 pm NASCAR Busch Qualifying Charlotte (LIVE) SPEED
May 26
3:00 pm Highlights from Miller Lite Carb Day Practice, the Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Challenge and Freedom 100 ESPN2.May 27
2:00 pm NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Mansfield (LIVE) SPEED
4:30pm NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Practice (LIVE) SPEED
6:00 pm 500 Festival Parade ESPN2
7:30 pm NASCAR Busch Series Lowe’s Motor Speedway (LIVE) FX
7:30 pm Speed News SPEED
May 28
12:00 pm Indy 500 Pre-race show (LIVE) ABC
1:00 pm The 90th Indianapolis 500 (LIVE) ABC
The broadcast team of Race Day host Brent Musburger, lead announcer Marty Reid, analysts Rusty Wallace and Scott Goodyear, and pit reporters Jack Arute, Dr. Jerry Punch and Jaime Little will cover all of the stories from Indianapolis.
3:00 pm NASCAR Raceday SPEED
5:00 pm NASCAR Cup Series Lowe’s Motor Speedway (LIVE) FOX
7:00 pm Speed News SPEED
9:00 pm Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain (LIVE) SPEED
11:00 pm NASCAR Victory Lane NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge SPEED
Images appearing in this blog courtesy of FOX, FX, NASCAR Images, Indy Racing League, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IMS Productions, ABC, SPEED and the respective nominee’s websites.
posted by Blake Johnson at 5:31 PM
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