Notebook

Notebook: Drivers warned to keep start clean and safe

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The fastest lineup in Indianapolis 500 history prompted an extra plea for safety.

"Don't crowd each other," IRL director of operations Brian Barnhart told the drivers Saturday. "Give everybody plenty of room, and let's have a clean start to a long and difficult day."

As the drivers sat on a bleacher for the public meeting along the main straightaway, Barnhart went over procedures for the start of Sunday's race, for pit stops and for restarts. He reminded them of the 60-mph speed limit on pit road and warned them to be aware of each other's position on the track.

"Do not impede the progress of the car behind you," he said.

"There are rules defining your behavior and officials to interpret your actions," Barnhart told the drivers. "Not all penalties are called in football or hockey, not all fouls are called in basketball. But you know the consequences of your actions and the risks you're taking on the track, and be prepared to pay the price."

Most of the hour-long meeting, attended by several thousand fans, involved the introduction of drivers and presentation of a number of awards, including trophies to defending champion Helio Castroneves and car owner Roger Penske.

"It"s fantastic to be here. Last year, you saw how happy I was," said Castroneves, who celebrated his victory by climbing a track fence. "But last year was last year. Now we have another race tomorrow."

Among the other awards was one to Bruno Junqueira, who will start from the pole position on Sunday.

Junqueira, who was fifth as a rookie last year, qualified at 231.342 mph for a start from the inside of the front row. The 33-car field averaged a record 228.648 mph.

No hesitation

"I have a hard time going at somebody else"s pace. I always like to be at the front," Hornish said Saturday. "I like to run as fast as the car will go. The guys on the crew are putting in 100 percent and I feel if I'm not giving my all, I'm not doing them justice."

Hornish was 24th as a rookie two years ago and 14th last year, one of just two races in which he did not lead at least one lap.

With two victories already this season, he once again leads the series.

"The car's been so good this month," Hornish said. "When we've wanted to run fast, we've been there; when we've wanted to run with race setups, the car's been there. We know pretty much under any weather condition what the car will do."

Hornish's Panther Racing announced its sponsorship by Pennzoil has been renewed another three years through the 2005 season.

Turn the tables

"Move over," said Max Papis.

Papis, Dario Franchitti, Alex Barron, Shigeaki Hattori and Tony Kanaan all have driven in the rival CART series. The last two Indy winners, Juan Montoya and Helio Castroneves, also were CART drivers competing for the first time at Indianapolis.

"It's not a coincidence," said Kanaan, the fastest of nine rookie qualifiers. "If that happens tomorrow, I'd be very happy. All 33 drivers can do it, not just the veterans."

Among the other rookies is Tomas Scheckter, son of 1979 Formula One champion Jody Scheckter, along with Rick Treadway, George Mack and Laurent Redon.

"The most important thing is to be respectful of each other," Papis said of the start of the race. "Nobody's thinking about winning on the first lap."

Next generation

Saturday was the younger Foyt's 18th birthday.

"There may be a little more pressure on me because I'm his grandson, but I don't think he'll be all that hard on me," he said. "I know it's all to help me become a better driver."

Foyt IV, a high school senior, has raced go-karts and Formula 2000 cars and in several U.S. Auto Club Silver Crown races.

The Infiniti Pro Series, which begins July 7 at Kansas Speedway, will race on the same tracks the IRL uses.

"I was very impressed with the way he ran my Indy car at a test earlier this year," the elder Foyt said. "I think it will be good preparation for the Indy Racing League, which is where he wants to run."

 

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