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Mishael Abbott (Pro Driver) Signing Autographs
Photo by Joe Paolella
Car Racing Writer
ROOKIE JAIME CAMARA WINS FUTABA
FREEDOM 100 POLE by Dan Peters Oak Park Journal
Thursday, May 26, 2005 – Brazil’s Jaime Camara claimed the first SWE Race Car Parts Pole Award of his Menards Infiniti Pro Series career, winning the pole for the Futaba Freedom 100. Driving the No. 1 CELG-Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone, had a two-lap qualifying average of 189.870 mph to claim the pole position for Friday's race. The Menards Infiniti Pro Series used a format similar to the traditional Indianapolis 500 qualifying format for the first time this year. Camara’s second lap of 190.135 mph, also was a new event qualifying lap record. “We had a good car since the first practice,” said Camara, who also qualified on the front row for races at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway. “Since we went out, I was flat the second lap, and I was very comfortable with the car. I did a good line every time; I did the same line every time.” Camara’s teammate, Travis Gregg, qualified second for his first race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a two-lap average of 189.385 mph. It marked the sixth time teammates had shared the front row, and the fifth time it had been accomplished by Sam Schmidt Motorsports. “As teammates, we work together and try to help each other out,” said Gregg, the series point leader. “I know that Jaime has helped me out a bunch, but being teammates, that’s just what we’re going to do.” Rookie Cole Carter, the son of 17-time
Indianapolis 500
starter Pancho Carter, and reigning USAC National Sprint Car champion Jay Drake qualified on the second row. Andretti and Unser are back together at
Indy......
Third generation drivers Al Unser, the son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., and Marco Andretti, son of Michael Andretti, qualified seventh and 10th, respectively. AL UNSER
(#3 Brian Stewart Racing Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone): “Well, it’s in the show. We’ll go get them in the race. That’s about all I have to say about qualifying. We made some adjustments after practice in between qualifying, and I actually found some more grip, so I think I have something up my sleeve for the race.” (About family tradition at Indy): “When I used to come here, I thought that it was just another track. But I got on here earlier this month and once I actually got some laps around this place, it actually does have a connection with me. There’s something about this place, I’m not sure what it is. Whether it’s the bricks underneath the asphalt, the history, or maybe because my family has won so much, but there’s something to do with this place.” (About lucky penny inside fire suit): “I’ve got a lucky penny that I found. It’s taped (inside fire suit). I found this in the infield parking lot, heads up. In ’92 before my dad won, my aunt found a penny heads up in the parking lot, gave it to my dad, and he won, so I’m hoping it will bring me the same luck.” MARCO ANDRETTI
(#26 Vonage Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone): “I’m definitely unhappy. I went out first of all with no dash, no data or anything, so I didn’t know where I was at and that, as a driver, that’s not fun. But on the other hand, we were flat and we were doing all we could do anyway, so I was doing the best I can. I just don’t think it was there. Basically we came here with a different motor and that was big time off, so we put this one back in and we had to miss the session, so we are just way out there. With the draft, I’ll be able to stay up with these guys, hopefully.” DANICA PATRICK will not be the only women
competing
this year at Indy... Mishael Abbott (Pro Driver) Signing Autographs Photo by Joe Paolella getting the car going the first two sessions in the morning, but I was flat all the way around, and I drove what I got. Now we have to go back and see if we can pick up a little more speed.” (Now that you’re at Indy, is it meeting or exceeding your expectations?): “This is incredible. Just being here; I’ve been here all month long. It’s a dream come true.” Qualifying Thursday for the Futaba Freedom 100 IRL Menards Infiniti Pro Series event on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with starting position, car number in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine and speed: <>1. (1) Jaime Camara, Dallara-Infiniti, 189.870 MILLER LITE CARB DAY AT THE BRICKYARD...
The 2005 edition of Miller Lite Carb Day
should be the best Carb Day celebration ever at Indianapolis Motor
Speedway.
Fan-friendly changes, including a shift from Thursday to Friday and the addition of a 100-mile race, complement the traditional lineup of Miller Lite Carb Day activities May 27. The final, one-hour practice for the 33-car Indianapolis 500 field kicks off Miller Lite Carb Day at 11 a.m. (local time). Also at 11 a.m., fans will receive, on a first-come, first-served basis, the Firestone Indianapolis 500 collectible sponsor trading pin at Firestone’s Formula One garages No. 25-27. At noon, more than 40 vintage race cars, including many from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum’s extensive collection, will take five ceremonial laps around the Speedway’s legendary 2.5-mile oval. At 12:10 p.m., driver introductions for the Futaba Freedom 100 Menards Infiniti Pro Series race will take place, and at 12:30 p.m., budding open-wheel stars such as Marco Andretti, Al Unser and others will compete in the 100-mile, 40-lap event. At 1:30 p.m., 12 of the fastest pit crews in motorsports will compete for bragging rights, the first-place trophy and $30,000 winner’s check in the 29th annual Checkers/Rally’s Pit Stop Challenge. Since 1977, the Checkers/Rally’s Pit Stop Challenge has paired the finest pit crews and drivers in exciting head-to-head competition to determine the fastest pit crew at Indy for the year. The 2005 Checkers/Rally’s Pit Stop Challenge grid will showcase many of the finest teams and most popular drivers in the IndyCar® Series as they compete for an $80,000 purse. Eleven of 12 pit stop contest participants are IndyCar Series race winners, and two drivers – Helio Castroneves and Kenny Brack – are Indianapolis 500 champions. The 2005 Checkers/Rally’s Pit Stop Challenge lineup: Car Driver Team The Checkers/Rally’s Pit Stop Challenge involves a four-round format. Eight teams go head to head, two at a time, in Round One. Four teams get a bye in the first round and take on the Round One winners in the second round. In each round, the team must change all four tires and make a simulated fuel hose connection to the car’s fuel tank for a minimum of three seconds. The winner in each round is determined by the fastest time, and the pressure is on crews to complete the stop without a rules infraction as time penalties can make the difference between victory and elimination. In 2004, the No. 15 Rahal Letterman Racing crew and driver Buddy Rice won the competition. A fitting conclusion to the day will come in the form of a concert by world-famous rock band The Black Crowes, who will headline the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert, which starts at 3:30 p.m. The opening act is the British rock group 22-20s. The concert venue has moved slightly for 2005. For the past several years, the Miller Lite Carb Day Concert venue has been the Bombardier Pagoda, but for 2005, the show will take place in the grass lot bordering Hulman Boulevard, east of the Pagoda. The third Futaba Freedom 100 is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (EDT) on May 27. It will be telecast as part of ESPN2’s coverage of Miller Lite Carb Day which is scheduled for 2 p.m. (EDT) on May 27. |
