2009 LB Motorsports Walk Of Fame Inductee Gives The 411 On INDY 500

4th Annual Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame inductees Bobby Rahal and Al Unser, Jr. share a word while standing in front of Parnelli Jones just before the medallion unveiling ceremony. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

2009 Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame Inductee Gives The 411 On INDY 500

It was barely over one month ago that Al Unser Jr. was experiencing "the best week ever" here around Shoreline Drive in Long Beach California.

The week (actually, four days) started off with Al receiving the honor, along with co-inductee Bobby Rahal, of having a medallion placed in a walkway on the Westside of the Long Beach Convention Center designated as the Long Beach Motosports Walk Of Fame. Since this was the fourth time this ceremony has been held, the list of previous inductees is not as long as one might think ... but it is full of people of extreme high accomplishment and recognizable to nearly all motorsports enthusiast familiar with the Southern California area and venue.

Thursday April 16, 2009, Al Unser, Jr., and his wife Gina, Bobby Rahal, and his son Graham were there ... along with a crowd of well wishers that included J.C. Agajanian, Jr. (whom I sat next to) Parnelli Jones (past inductee), Brian Redmond (inductee and first driver to ever win at the Long Beach Grand Prix), and about 200 other family, friends, fans, and photographers shared in the unveiling.

The section of the Wyland Mural on the side of the Long Beach Convention Center that was to be re-dedicated after its restoration earlier in the month of April. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Al Unser, Jr., muralist Robert Wyland, and Mayor of Long Beach Bob Foster get ready to rise up on the scissor-lift to cut the ribbon to re-dedicate the Wyland Mural. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

On Friday, Al, was involved in a re-dedication ribbon cutting ceremony of the large mural of whales and other sea creatures that adorn the landmark Long Beach Convention Center building in the center of the Long Beach Grand Prix venue.

Al Unser, Jr. signs an autograph soon after his win in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race at the Long Beach Grand Prix venue. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Saturday, Al Unser, Jr. drove a 250 hp Toyota Scion tC to victory in the annual Toyota Pro-Celebrity race. Being that this win gave Al his seventh official win at this track, with the six previous wins at the wheel of a CART/ChampCar, it came as little surprise even though he had to steer his way around several wrecks caused by some of the anxious Celebrities to best the field.

The happiest person, besides Al was Keanu Reeves, who also drove a good and steady race while avoiding all the mayhem in turn one and about the course, to win the Celebrity category of this competition.

Al Unser, Jr. sits at the driver's seat in the ceremonial Toyota convertable pace car as IRL Dallaras line up behind him in order to begin the warm-up laps before the 35th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Then on Sunday, Al Unser, Jr. was the Grand Marshal of the 35th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach ... did I mention, a race that earned him the nickname "King Of The Beach" due to his six wins here, the most by any driver. He led the field in the Toyota pace car for the first ever Long Beach Grand Prix held under the sanctioning body of the Indy Racing League (IRL) in unification. Last year, the race featured ChampCar drivers and equipment only ... and the points were scored to count for the 2008 IndyCar Series Championship.

The best week ever!

So now Al Unser, Jr. moves on to the Indianapolis and Speedway, Indiana ... where there is a little 2.5 mile motorsports racetrack that has become known as "The World's Greatest Race Course". The venue, itself, has been in existence for 100 years and this year will be the 93rd running of the most famous and grueling 500 mile annual motorsports competition in the world ... the INDY 500!

Al Unser, Jr., as it turns out, has been successful here too, winning this race twice and finishing in the top 10 in a set field of 33 cars, 10 out of 20 competitions.

As an elder statesman, Al Unser, Jr. may just be having the best year ever. At Indianapolis, he is also the IndyCar Series driver coach and he had a few tips for the drivers who will be racing tomorrow in the INDY 500

This excerpted and edited from IndyCar.com -

Race Day analysis
By Dave Lewandowski - Indycar.com - Friday, May 22, 2009

Vitor Meira, the 2008 Indianapolis 500 runner-up, preaches patience - to himself in the mirror - in preparation for Race Day.

"I think here patience pays a lot, not only because it is a very long race but it's a track that doesn't forgive a lot of mistakes," said Meira, who will start 14th in the No. 14 ABC Supply Co. car for A.J. Foyt Racing. "The strategy is you go out, log some laps, make sure that you risk as few times as possible up to 50 laps to go, then you drop the hammer."

That's a strategy endorsed by two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and IndyCar Series driver coach Al Unser Jr. With the field - top to bottom separated by a tick over 3 seconds (the closest margin with four-lap qualifications in place) - patience will pay.

"All the teams have the cars figured out; they're on a level playing field like no other time," Unser said. "You're to a point right now, I was talking to Michael Andretti and they were looking for a half a pound of drag reduction. Any little bit.

"In the old days - in the' 70s, '80s and '90s - you had several different makes of cars and several engine manufacturers. Say I qualified 15th, I could count on five of the cars in front of me not finishing because of mechanical failure. I could count five more running into each other. I could count three that would have problems in the pits. So that really only left one or two guys that I really had to race, and that's how it unfolded in front of me when I ran the 500.

"Today, the front row is going to finish this race unless something strange or a freak deal happens. And the mistakes, if they make any, will be very small. The drivers know this, yet they have to have patience. It's really hard to have patience when everything is going by so quickly. That's when you really have to count on your team - the whole team comes into play. And when mistakes are made, you have to be there to capitalize on them. "

Unser said no matter where in the 33-car field the driver starts, the initial section of the 200-lap race is crucial.

"You need to get through the first couple of laps clean and get going and get your rhythm," he said. "If you're in the front half of the field, you'll do what the leader does all day as far as pitting and all that. If you're in the back half of the field and an early yellow comes out, then you'll get off-sequence with the leaders. The leaders will most likely stay out and that's when you'll come in.

"It's going to be all about track position, because the field is so close from front to back, and what I've been seeing during the Month of May is that it's impossible to pass. You can have a car that's running 222 in the lead and come up on a car that's running 218 and he won't be able to pass. When that happens, it's going to stack up and that's the most important time to have patience. It's going to be too much risk to pass another car. Just stay behind the guy in front of you until he makes a mistake and then it's an easy pass. The driver in front of you loses patience and does something that puts him out of shape then you're able to pass.

"It's a long race but it goes by very quickly these days. You don't really have to take care of anything these days. The engines, cars, tires and gearboxes are known reliability. It comes down to truly a whole team effort. The restarts are going to be very important as far as being able to pass on restarts. You have to be sharp; you do the passing instead of somebody passing you because once you get going you're stuck behind whoever is in front of you. Traffic will dictate a lot of what goes on during the race."
Reference Here>>

Click it: Starting grid | Race Day schedule | Final practice: All systems go

2009 is a hallmark year for North American Open-Wheel Racing now that full unification of team talent and drivers has taken place. To be honest, the last century was not so bad but this INDY 500 marks the beginning of a new era and just may be the start of the best century ever for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

... notes from The EDJE

Pole Day At IMS's Centnnial Era

The main straitaway Pagoda of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway located at 16th and Georgetown in Speedway, Indiana. The Pagoda is decorated to commerate the first 100 years of the race facility's existance. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

Pole Day At IMS's Centnnial Era

The first full day of qualifications for the 93rd running of the INDY 500 begins today as Justin Wilson takes to the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in his Dale Coyne Racing prepared, Z-Line HD furniture sponsored Dallara.

On this first day, only the first 11 places of the grid will be filled based upon the average speed attained over four laps of this 100 year old 2 and a half mile four-cornered oval. The field for the race on race day will have 11 rows of three cars per row making 33 cars, but on this first day only 11 cars are assured of a position in the grid of "The World's Greatest Race Course".

Each driver will have a maximum of three attempts to get into the field in the allotted time of the six and a half our qualification period.

Once the fastest 11 places are filled, the slowest car to qualify will be on the "Bubble" for the balance of the day. The driver who ends up in the 11th position will be a position that will be in jeopardy of being bumped until the six and a half hour session ends.

Winds swirl around the Speedway and set the flags mounted on the Pagoda straight. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

This excerpted and edited from indycar.com -

Handicapping qualifying
By Dave Lewandowski - indycar.com - Friday, May 8, 2009

Helio Castroneves has started from the pole twice in his eight Indianapolis 500-Mile Races. Scott Dixon, attempting to qualifying for his 100th IndyCar Series race, was the 2008 pole sitter. Tony Kanaan is the only other full-time IndyCar Series driver with 10 career pole starts, including 2005 at Indianapolis.

Does that make them favorites to win the PEAK Performance Pole Award presented by AutoZone on May 9?
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The point is there are more contenders than pretenders to fill the 11 positions on Pole Day. There's a two-hour practice window (first hour split between two groups) preceding commencement of four-lap cumulative time qualifications.
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Once positions 1-11 are filled, bumping will occur for the remainder of the noon-6 p.m. (EDT) session to determine the pole winner and 10 other qualifiers for the day. Each car has three attempts per day to qualify and, if bumped, that entrant can re-enter the qualification line. Entrants also can withdraw a qualified car and re-enter the line.

"Today was an important day," said Meira, driver of the No. 14 ABC Supply car for A.J. Foyt Racing. "The main thing is that the car is solid. We might not be the fastest car out there but it's very, very solid. It's really grippy and definitely a good race car."

Four consistent qualifying laps - on the largest stage in auto racing - is all that's needed to claim one of the 11 spots available for the May 24 race. Maybe even the pole.

"I would be surprised if one of the Penske's wasn't on the pole," Patrick said. "They seem to really be quick right now. But anything can happen around here. You can be one small change or two or three small changes away from having a really great car or a really bad car -- or at least a car that's not in the ballpark for the front spot. Anything can happen."
Reference Here>>

Click it: Qualification procedure Qualification order

One impression of a long time motorsports legend of the 100 year old Indianapolis Motor Speedway complex came in from Richard Petty on his first year as a car owner at the track ...

the500Petty's initial IMS impression ... not so great. Re: garage area -- "Looked like a bunch of barns for horses and cows and stuff." --pd

Ryan Briscoe (224.131), Helio Castroneves, Graham Rahal, Will Power, Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick, Hideki Mutoh, Mario Moraes, Raphael Matos, Ed Carpenter, & Justin Wilson fill the top 11 places - Let the bumping begin!

UPDATE: It's 4:00 PM ET at the track, two hours to go and drivers are beginning to take runs for the pole position.

Tweets - From Twitter:

IndyTalkDanica 7th 222.882. Faster than first run. Climbs from 10th to 7th. #indy500

IndyCarPRCastroneves takes the pole from Ryan Briscoe with a four-lap average of 224.864.

kvracingMario & Paul going out for practice for maybe attempting to qualify again for MM and first time for PT

FuriousWedgeHelio's run should be the lighting of the fire for everyone, those wanting poll, and those just wanting in the Top 11

1:30 PT - 4:30 at the track and 90 minutes left to make it into the first 11 spots ... or grab the pole away from Helio Castroneves.

Stack ranking at 90 minutes out: 1-Helio Castroneves (224.864), 2-Ryan Briscoe, 3-Dario Franchitti, 4-Scott Dixon, 5-Graham Rahal, 6-Will Power, 7-Danica Patrick, 8-Marco Andretti, 9-Tony Kanaan, 10-Mario Moraes, 11-Hideki Mutoh

With the action warming up on the track, Danica Patrick wonders if her position in the field is assured [CONTROL-CLICK PHOTO - 1st Qualifying Run Video]. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

IndyTalkWe're back to practice at Indy. #indy500

IndyTalkTranscript of press conference today at Indy with The King, Richard Petty: http://twurl.nl/t457dp #indy500

VisionRacingEd & the 20 Menards car heading out to get in some practice laps & see where we can do... no decision on a qualifying attempt yet #Indy500

SarahFisher67Off to tech....we shall see- Klint

VisionRacing21 Vision car will wait until tomorrow to qualify. Ed however in the 20 Menards car... we'll see! OH the drama #Indy500

5:00PM ET at the track and one hour to make it into the top 11!

17:03:09 GMT-0400 The track is green. Tony Kanaan is out to make a qualifying attempt. He thinks he has a shot to move up ... maybe take the pole.

17:04:44 GMT-0400 Tony Kanaan has a 223.619 mph second lap.

17:06:21 GMT-0400 Tony Kanaan takes the checkered flag and qualifies in P5 with a 4-lap average speed of 223.612 mph. Moves up four places.

17:07:34 GMT-0400 Paul Tracy is on the track for a qualifying attempt.

PlanetIrlPT talking to his favorite person in the world there. I expect a good run here. #indy500

17:09:16 GMT-0400 Paul Tracy has a 222.076 mph first lap.

17:10:38 GMT-0400 Paul Tracy has a 221.893 mph third lap.

17:11:25 GMT-0400 Paul Tracy takes the checkered flag and qualifies in P11 with a 4-lap average speed of 221.915 mph. He is presently "On The Bubble" ready to get bumped.

IndyCarPRTracy qualifies 11th, bumping Hideki Mutoh from the field.

IndyTalkTracy 11th at 221.915. Bumps Mutoh. Tracy heads right back into qualifying line.

Penske Racing's Will Power makes it into the field at P9 making three cars operated by the Penske stable in the top 9 positions. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

17:18:20 GMT-0400 Hideki Mutoh is at the track pad for a qualifying attempt.

Talk has it that Graham Rahal may pull his time and head to technical inspection in order to improve his position at P4??? This does not make sense, but it is not official.

17:22:22 GMT-0400 Hideki Mutoh takes the green flag for his qualifying attempt.

17:23:05 GMT-0400 Hideki Mutoh has a 223.245 mph first lap.

17:25:17 GMT-0400 Hideki Mutoh takes the checkered flag and qualifies in P10 with a 4-lap average speed of 222.581 mph. Bumps PT (Paul Tracy) to the curb.

Shock of the day - NHLR's Graham Rahal removes himself from the second row for a shot at the pole!

17:30:08 GMT-0400 Graham Rahal has a 224.230 mph first lap. Fastest lap for him in the month.

Graham Rahal moves up from the outside of the second row to the inside of the second row - What Is The Point?

Marco Andretti on the track - 17:35:46 GMT-0400 Marco Andretti has a 223.143 mph second lap.

Four lap average 223.114 puts him on the inside of row 3.

Scott Dixon now out challenging for the pole. Finishes the four laps with 223.867 and does not move his position on the grid.

IndyCarPRDixon fifth. Moraes out for a second attempt.

17:42:27 GMT-0400 Mario Moraes is on the track for a qualifying attempt.

17:44:08 GMT-0400 Mario Moraes has a 223.785 mph first lap.

17:46:08 GMT-0400 Mario Moraes takes the checkered flag and qualifies P7 with a 4-lap average speed of 223.331 mph.

Paul Tracy is the only driver to be bumped each time these qualified drivers remove their times and post better or equal times.

17:47:42 GMT-0400 Raphael Matos takes the green flag on the qualifying attempt.

17:50:28 GMT-0400 Raphael Matos takes the checkered flag with a 4-lap average speed of 222.466 mph. Does not qualify for the field today. Hideki Mutoh on the bubble.

Ryan Briscoe had already placed his car next to his teammate Helio Castroneves, was thinking of giving it another try at the pole position [CONTROL-CLICK PHOTO - 1st Qualifying Run Video]. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

Ryan Briscoe removes his P2 time to challenge for the pole.

17:52:05 GMT-0400 Ryan Briscoe takes the green flag on the qualifying attempt.

17:52:48 GMT-0400 Ryan Briscoe has a 224.377 mph first lap. This is faster and looks good.

17:54:09 GMT-0400 Ryan Briscoe has a 223.930 mph third lap. Not faster. May lose a spot!?

17:54:49 GMT-0400 Ryan Briscoe takes the checkered flag with a 4-lap average speed of 224.083 mph. Struggles with wind on the track - inconsistant. Keeps P2 on the grid.

17:55:19 GMT-0400 the driver for Ganassi/SamSchmidt, Alex Lloyd is on the track for a qualifying attempt.

17:57:08 GMT-0400 Alex Lloyd has a 222.989 mph first lap.

17:58:28 GMT-0400 Alex Lloyd has a 222.427 mph third lap. Four lap average of 222.622 and bumps Hideki Mutoh and places the HER energy drink sponsored ride into 11th and last place for the day.

17:59:53 GMT-0400 Justin Wilson is on the track for a qualifying attempt. Seconds from the final gun and out for four laps.

17:59:53 GMT-0400 Justin Wilson is on the track for a qualifying attempt.

Justin Wilson does not make the field on this day.

18:04:05 GMT-0400 Justin Wilson takes the checkered flag with a 4-lap average speed of 222.476 mph.

IndyTalkWilson too slow. 222.476. But he should be a solid Day 2 qualifier. Way to go Dale Coyne for taking a shot. #indy500

Helio Castroneves captures his third pole position for the Indy 500 [CONTROL-CLICK PHOTO - Qualifying Run Video]. The Brazilian, who won the race in 2001 and 2002 as well as taking pole in both 2003 and 2007, beat his Penske team-mate Ryan Briscoe to the top spot, with Dario Franchitti completing the front row for Ganassi. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

IndyTalkHelio in tears on pit lane, overcome with emotion after winning third career Indianapolis 500 pole. #indy500

A great story for Helio, from facing a prison term jus a couple of weeks ago to Pole Position at the INDY 500 - May has been very, very good for Helio Castroneves!

Pos --- Driver --- Team --- Speed
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 224.864mph
2. Ryan Briscoe Penske 224.083mph
3. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 224.010mph
4. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 223.954mph
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi 223.867mph
6. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green 223.612mph
7. Mario Moraes KV 223.331mph
8. Marco Andretti Andretti Green 223.114mph
9. Will Power Penske 223.028mph
10. Danica Patrick Andretti Green 222.882mph
11. Alex Lloyd Ganassi/Sam Schmidt 222.622mph

Story description of the day's events HERE >>

... notes from The EDJE

IMS - Marco Andretti Ends Day On Top

Marco Andretti sits out the day's session, waiting with legendary grandfather, Mario Andretti, on top of the speed charts. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

IMS - Marco Andretti Ends Day On Top

Bobby D started the day at the top of the charts.

Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing driver, Bobby D (Robert Doornbos), climbs to register the fastest time in the scheduled Practice Day 2 (the first day of combined team practice, Practice Day 1 was rained out) in early going.

Newman/Haas/Lanigan's Bobby D (Robert Doornbos) looks good at speed during the first couple of hours of the morning session of Practice Day #2 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

His speed of 223.194 places him ahead of Team Penske drivers Ryan Briscoe @ 223.109 - P2 and Helio Castroneves @ 223.047 - P3 (for the top 15, refer to photo below).

Rookie Orientation Practice, held two days ago, was led by Paul Tracy, KV Racing Technology at a speed of 223.089 which would place him at third highest for all laps run in the month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).

Up until noon on this day, Paul has been able to place in at P6 with a speed of 222.010 but what this says about how competitive this field for the 110th edition of the INDY 500 is fantastic. What with two of the top three lap speeds being registered in the month of May, at this early time by teams that are in only their sophomore year and Transition Players competing in the Indy Racing League, the competition for the Centennial Indy 500 is wide open.

Timing and Scoring snapshot from the morning sessions. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks via computer display (2009)

UPDATES from Twitter throughout the day:

10:50 AM PT - Danica Patrick sets Fastest Lap - 223.253 ... Sarah Fisher up to P10!

IndyTalk32 cars on track so far. Danica, Doornbos, Briscoe, Helio faster than 223. #indy500

FuriousWedgeTop 29 cars within one second of each other for best lap time. Will the Bottom get closer as they get more time, or will the Top go higher?

IndyTalkThe ins and outs of the Indianapolis 500 qualifying procedure, all on one page! http://www.indy500.com/imag...

TheEDJE@FuriousWedge - Top 29? ... Now that is competitive! Great early going results.

RaceRemoteWatching Practice for the Indy 500 See it live on-line and with T+S at http://www.indycar.com

11:05 AM PT - Scott Dixon sets Fastest Lap - 223.275

11:15 AM PT - Graham Rahal @ 222.967 is up to P6 making it 3 Transition Players (joining Robert Doornbos and Paul Tracy) placing in the Top 10 on lap speed.

11:32 AM PT - Helio Castroneves sets Fastest Lap - 223.650

IndyTalkHelio just jumped to No. 1 on speed charts at 223.650. Definitely NO tow. Did it solo

11:41 AM PT - Dario Franchitti sets Fastest Lap - 223.679

IndyTalkFranchitti tops of day at 223.679. Didn't see lap, don't know if it was solo or tow. Sorry.

IndyCarNationRT @IndyCarNation: RT @IndyCarNation: Ryan Hunter Reay first to make contact at Indy. Here's the direct link http://ow.ly/5Ewt

Marco Andretti, Andretti Green Racing in his new Venom Energy Drink black and red livery. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

12:25 PM PT - Marco Andretti blisters Fastest Lap by 1.8 MPH - 225.478

VisionRacingVision team repairing & looking over the no. 21 car to make sure it is A-ok. Expecting to head back out on track before the end of the day.

IndyCarPR3:30 [PM ET] update: Fastest of the Day is now @Andretti26 with a lap of 225.478 mph.

Track Yellow Flag for inspection.

IndyTalkTop 5 at 3:55: [PM ET] Marco 225.4, Dario 223.67, Helio 223.65, Doornbos 223.5, Briscoe 223.4

TRACK STATUS: 16:01:23 GMT-0400 The track is green.

IndyTalkRT @Goblowsoup @IndyTalk tow for Marco, he was right behind Robert Doornbos.

IndyCarNationGuys r getn the car ready w changes. Going bck out n hope 2 find some speed. Wide open n not enough speed n abt 10 degrees 2 much steering

kvracing#5 and #15 cars are both back on track, 1hr 30mins left of practice. Currently PT is 10th & MM is 16th. Marco is P1 (225.478mph)

IndyCarNationMarco fastest. Watch latest highlight clip here: http://ow.ly/5FGI

IndyCarNationRT @IndyTalk: New IndyCast video podcast with Al Unser Jr., Sarah Fisher: http://bit.ly/9JToY

SarahFisher67Sarah could revisit her 221 lap if she could improve T 1,2. T 3,4 are the same as before

IndyTalkTop 5 at 5:25: Marco 225.478, Helio 225.237, Dixon 224.448, Dario 223.679, Doornbos 223.592

IndyCarPR5:30 update: @Andretti26 still the fastest at 225.478 mph.

RaceRemoteCongratulations to Townsend Bell for his Indy500 Ride: His interview is now "Live" on the Sidepods Podcast http://www.sidepods.com

He will be driving a KV Racing Technology Dallara sponsored by HerbalLife.

VisionRacingED Carpenter is on track @ #Indy 500 practice & is currently P14 @ 220.447 mph & has turned 112 laps. Only Conway & Matos put in more laps.

FuriousWedgeHope the trend continues; Stanton Barrett/Team 3G just went out & found a very slight more speed to get to 218.089mph; field now within 1.3s

5:53 PM ET - #16 Scott Sharp just turned a lap of 222.437 mph. This is their fastest lap of the day.

5:54 PM ET - #18 Justin Wilson just turned a lap of 221.200 mph. This is their fastest lap of the day.

5:56 PM ET - #4 Dan Wheldon just turned a lap of 224.022 mph. This is their fastest lap of the day.

5:58 PM ET - #14 Vitor Meira just turned a lap of 221.142 mph. This is their fastest lap of the day.

Timing and Scoring snapshot - Final stack ranking of the top 15 positions. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks via computer display (2009)

18:00:27 GMT-0400 The checkered flag is out. Up next: IndyCar Series Fast Friday practice on May 8 at Noon (EDT).

kvracingPractice has finished for today, PT is 12th (222.671) and MM is 16th (222.150). Fastest was Andretti (225.478.ph)

VisionRacingCheckered flag on a FULL day of practice @ #Indy 500. TOP speed of the day 225.478 mph by M.Andretti. He has BIG toes or is that A BIG TOW?

patronhighcroftAll the news from the first full rain-free day of practice for Scott Sharp in the Tequila Patrón car at Indy http://tinyurl.com/indy-5-7

... notes from The EDJE

Paul Tracy Answers The One Question That Matters

Paul Tracy as he sits in the KV Racing Technology Geico Racing sponsored Dallara. Image Credit: Andy Sallee

Paul Tracy Answers The One Question That Matters

At rookie orientation, a day usually reserved to first time drivers to turn laps at speed before seasoned professionals hit the bricks to show all how it is done, Paul Tracy lays down the quickest lap of the day.

Oh, to run in the 220's on first laps out makes the statement the 40 year old Paul Tracy and team owner friend, Jimmy Vasser were looking to make. Image Credit: Andy Sallee

At 223.069, Paul Tracy showed all who are paying attention that he was ready, and that if this type of performance can be maintained by the Jimmy Vasser led KV Racing Technology Dallara throughout the month of May, he has to be counted on the short list as a favorite to win this 100th edition of the INDY 500.

Question: Is Paul Tracy ready to make a "Crapwagon" perform? YES!!!!

Heck, he had the Geico Racing Dallara pacing at over 220 MPH on just his fourth lap out.

Nelson Phillipe, I Drive Green/HVM Racing drives the #00 Dallara to raise awareness of the need to reduce ones carbon footprint ... 00 stands for zero emissions. Image Credit: Andy Sallee

How the "Rookies" fared (** denotes Transition Player):

1. (15) Paul Tracy, Geico/KVRT Dallara-Honda, 223.089**
2. (16) Scott Sharp, Patron/Panther Racing Dallara-Honda, 221.878
3. (06) Robert Doornbos, NHLR Racing Dallara-Honda, 221.735**
4. (2) Raphael Matos, USAF/Luzco Dragon Racing Dallara-Honda, 218.613
5. (34) Alex Tagliani, King TUT/Conquest Racing Dallara-Honda, 218.333**
6. (24) Mike Conway, DAD'S Rootbeer/Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dallara-Honda, 217.063
7. (00) Nelson Phillippe, I Drive Green/HVM Racing Dallara-Honda, 214.786**
8. (99) Alex Lloyd, Ganassi/Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara-Honda, 213.032
9. (98) Stanton Barrett, CURB/Agajanian/Team 3G Dallara-Honda, 207.522

"PT" signing autographs at IMS after setting fastest lap for the day among 9 drivers. Image Credit: Andy Sallee

This excerpted and edited from Racer.com BETA - Paul Tracy’s Indy blog: Tuesday, May 5

Pretty good day’s work, huh?
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The other thing I was born to do was compete at the front, and that’s what KV Racing Technologies has employed me to do, that’s why GEICO are on board, and why Monster, CEC Wheels, and so on are with me.

The No. 15 car today was everything that Kevin Kalkhoven, Jimmy Vasser and team manager Mark Johnson told me they’d give me.
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Even when we ran race downforce, I was still able to turn a 220mph on my third hot lap. That put us quickest for a couple of hours.

We had a few electronics problems – couple of sensors weren’t working, there was a laser that wasn’t working and a strain gauge that wasn’t working properly, and it took a couple of hours to sort through that.
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Then we put some more fuel in, a new set of tires, and ran a 223.1 and went to the top of the charts. Pretty sweet.

That was satisfying for the team: it really reflects their hard work and proves we’re solid as a unit. And of course, GEICO are gonna be pleased, because they didn’t make the show last year.
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There’s a long way to go, of course. Track conditions today were about perfect: pretty sunny, light winds, 78 degrees ambient. It’s pretty close to how the weather is being forecast for Saturday qualifying. But still you can’t make a direct comparison or prediction with the weekend situation. There’s not a lot of rubber on the track yet, and this diamond-cut track surface is chomping through the tires pretty quick. You get 24 or 25 laps out of a set right now and as the tires start to wear, the rear-end gets a little bit nervous – the usual stuff. But I’m expecting as the lap count builds up, with more and more rubber going down, we’re going to get more grooves, more lines for us to take, so each session is going to be like an investigation to see how much grip is available and where.
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But for today, I’m satisfied. Another thing I was grateful for was the reaction from the spectators. I’m not a race driver who people think needs a lot of loving outside of the team, but I’ve got to confess I was pleased to see so many well-wishers and quite a few excited fans. Also I caught up with Dario Franchitti and Justin Wilson and chatted with them a bit, and obviously Mario Moraes as a teammate is someone I’m gonna be dealing with a lot this month.
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P.T.
Reference Here>>

... notes from The EDJE

Paul Tracy & 15 Questions For The 2009 INDY 500

First Glimpse of PT and his new, Geico logoed firesuit. Image credit: KV Racing Technology's Photos - Facebook Wall Photos

Paul Tracy & 15 Questions For The 2009 INDY 500

Like a lot of us out here who still cling on to what is left of a CCWS spirit and CART culture, love it when good drivers, entertaining drivers are able to get loaded back into the chamber of the IRL rifle and compete.

Yesterday, the Indy Racing League held a teleconference with KV Racing Technology's Paul Tracy, who will be driving for the team in the 2009 INDY 500 set to be televised Sun, May 24 - Noon (ET) on ABC.

The Moderator asked 15 question ranging from expectations for the month of May, his preparedness, the make up of the KVRT team, and past relations with the racing community. Paul's return the the ICS scene is a refreshing blast of personality as his response to these questions point out.

Welcome back Paul ... it is as if you never left.

Paul Tracy was confirmed as the driver of a KV Racing entry in next month’s Indianapolis 500. Driving No. 15 and sponsored by GEICO insurance, the 2003 Champ Car title-winner will compete in the month of May at The Brickyard for the first time since he was controversially declared runner-up to Helio Castroneves in 2002. /// The Canadian was bullish about his chances. He said: “Every year at Indy there are a load of drivers there who just want to make the show, there are a handful who just want to run well and they’ll be happy with a Top 10 finish. /// “Well, that isn’t me. I’m in the handful that want to win this thing, and who will do everything in their power to do that, and I know KV Racing shares that same philosophy. We saw last year that KV was the best of the teams transitioning from Champ Car, and Jimmy [Vasser, team co-owner] and Mark Johnson [team manager] tell me that they have been working hard all winter on their superspeedway package. Image Credit: racer.com

Indy Racing League Teleconference Transcript - Wednesday, April 29, 2009

MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, we're joined now by Paul Tracy. Thanks for joining us, Paul.

PAUL TRACY: Sure.

MODERATOR: Paul will be making his 2009 IndyCar Series debut in the Indianapolis 500, driving the No. 15 GEICO/KV Racing Technology car. Paul has made five starts in the Indianapolis 500 with a best finish of second in his last start, which came in 2002.

Paul, you got into an IndyCar Series car last summer at Edmonton. Obviously you were quick right off the bat, finishing fourth in the race. Do you have any concerns now about getting back into the rhythm and being quick at Indy?

PAUL TRACY: No, not really. Obviously I've got a little bit more lead time to get ready for Indianapolis. There's a whole week of practice before the first week of qualifying. When we went to Edmonton last summer, it was really just kind of a last-minute deal. I was actually on vacation with my wife and kids at the beach in San Diego and got a phone call from Tony (George) asking if I'd like to do the race in Edmonton. That was about three days before I had to leave. Really didn't get any time to prepare for that. Hadn't driven a car in four or five months.

Paul Tracy, driving for Vision Racing, runs just ahead of Justin Wilson in the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Dallara in the 2008 Rexall Edmondton INDY. Paul Tracy, after qualifying and starting 16th, passes KV Racing Technology's Oriol Servia for 4th on the final lap. Image Credit: Covy Moore (2008)

From that standpoint I've kind of known for the last three, four weeks that this deal was going to come together. I've had time to get ready for it mentally and physically. The team obviously has fast cars this year. They were looking for a veteran driver to make their assault, KV at the 500. We all share the same goal, and that's to go there and try to win the race.

MODERATOR: You mentioned the team there. Guys you're familiar with, like Jimmy Vasser, Kevin Kalkhoven. You've known those guys on and off the track for years. Tell us about the chance to work with those guys for the month.

PAUL TRACY: I think it's great. I've known Kevin since he got into the car. Then Jimmy got involved with him. We've been competitors. But Kevin has always been very friendly with me, has said to me on a couple of different occasions that at some point he would like me to drive for him. So we've finally got that opportunity to do that. I couldn't be happier. Obviously the team is doing a good job this year. I think Mario (Moraes) is just lacking a little bit of experience. That only comes with time.

But the team, I feel they've got competitive cars. A lot of the guys on the team, the mechanics and engineers, I've worked with in the past. Quite a few of them are from Forsythe. My championship year at Forsythe, the guys on the team were on my crew, you know, three, so it should make the transition to getting there and getting up to speed fairly easy 'cause it's pretty comfortable surroundings really.

MODERATOR: Let's talk about the month of May and the race. What type of goals and expectations have you set for yourself heading into the month?

PAUL TRACY: For me, the only reason I want to go there is to try to win. It's not to go there to qualify and make the field and have a good day. I said at the press conference in Long Beach the reason I'm going there is to win. If we can do that and generate a lot of media for our sponsor with GEICO, hopefully we can grow this into something bigger and better. Right now the focus is just on Indianapolis. If that goes well enough, then maybe we can get into the races in Canada or maybe more.

Q. Like you said in Long Beach, this is the one trophy missing from your mantel and you'd like to have it. As you talked about earlier, can this be the springboard to get you back in full-time?

PAUL TRACY: I would hope so. Obviously with either a win or a great result in Indy I would hope that it would open the door to racing on a full-time basis. Last year coming back at Edmonton to come right out of the box and be in the top five or six in every practice session with Tony's (George) team, then finish fourth, I thought the expectations of that, I think everybody exceeded what we had planned to do. The excitement level after the race for that three, four, five days post race was very good. I thought, 'OK, I'm going to be in a car here.'

As time passed by, it just kind of fizzled. You know, nothing's a guarantee. Obviously this is a good opportunity. It didn't come out of the blue. I've had to generate the sponsorship to do this and find the money to do it. Nobody has handed me a ride. It takes money to run these cars. It's going to take finding a full-time sponsor to get me on the track.

Q. Toronto is back on the schedule this summer. Your old pals/enemies at Andretti Green are running the show. How much would it mean to you personally to be back on the grid with a car that's competitive to win?

PAUL TRACY: Well, obviously I would like to do that. Again, it's going take finding sponsorship to do that. Now that we've got a program for Indy, and I was at Long Beach, generated a lot of talk, generated a lot of media, a lot of exposure - some people are starting to talk. 'What is it going to take to get you in the Canadian races or more races?' So we've got the doors open now talking to more sponsors, people getting interested.

But it's tough. It's a tough market out there. I was just listening to Stanton (Barrett). It's no different. I'm no different than him. We're out there talking to sponsors, but it's hard to get a commitment from them.

Q. I remember in 2002 before the race when the team was struggling to make it into the show, you kind of called it Groundhog Day, that every day was the same. Rather than getting better, it was just getting worse. Then you were there at the very end of the race with it in your hands. Do you feel much better prepared going into Indy this year than you did back in '02 with Team Green?

PAUL TRACY: We went there again in '02 on just a one-race deal to run Indy. Our focus was the CART title with Dario (Franchitti) and myself. I think as the month was ramping up towards qualifying, we just weren't progressing and getting the setup right on the car. We struggled and struggled and struggled with it. We were just off a little bit in terms of setup. It doesn't take very much to be two, three or four miles an hour slow.

We basically on the day of qualifying, I think on the first weekend, we made a big drastic change in the final practice to try to get some speed in the car. I had lost the car in Turn 2 and backed into the wall, banged myself up pretty good. I was almost right then, I said to Barry Green, I'm ready to throw in the towel on this deal. I think I should go home for a couple days and just clear my head and think about this. If you don't want to run, or if we want to go test at Mid-Ohio with the Champ Car, then maybe that's what we should do. Barry said to go home for a couple days. I went home, got my head clear, because Indy is the kind of place where you run so much there, and once you get kind of sideways, get going the wrong direction, it's hard to get going back the right way again. Sometimes the best thing to do is just go and clear your head.

I did that. I came back. We had gotten some information and some help from some different teams and some ideas, really just changed the setup and changed a few things that we had on the car that weren't right. Then both Dario (Franchitti) and myself and Michael (Andretti), we were all quick. Second weekend, I think I qualified at like 228 (mph) on the second weekend. Then the car was good. But I was starting on the last row.

It doesn't take very much to be wrong. That's how sensitive the cars are.

Q. To go in there this year, even though Jimmy's (Vasser) team has a year of IndyCar experience now, it seems the teams that came over last year have picked up the pace dramatically. How much better suited do you feel you are going into this year's race to what you were back then?

Paul and Jimmy get even more comfortable with each other during the final ICS practice session along Shoreline Drive. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

PAUL TRACY: Well, Jimmy's (Vasser) guaranteed me a fast car, so I'm taking his word on it. He said they worked and worked and worked all winter on a lot of the fundamentals of the car, little tiny things that make big differences in terms of speed. It's not just changing a spring, changing a roll bar that makes the car fast. There's a hundred little things that make these cars fast on the superspeedways. A lot of it is body fit and aerodynamics, wheel bearings, oil. It's all the little tiny tricks that make the difference, like in a stock car. When they go to qualify at Daytona, Talladega, there's like 50 little things that make the difference. When you don't have those, it really shows.

From that standpoint, they qualified sixth at Kansas, which is a big, fast speedway, flat out, with all that preparation is where it shows. I don't think they had the race that they wanted, but the speed is in the car. With that, they've told me they've got a good car that they feel can win at Indianapolis.

Q. I noticed you were quoted recently about that 2002 race saying, I feel I kind of got swindled. Are you haunted by what happened in 2002?

PAUL TRACY: I'm not haunted by it. It's one of those things where I've seen the data and I've seen the television footage and I've seen where our cars were positioned on the track. They can measure these cars. I said to somebody at Long Beach, I watched a show on VERSUS a couple weeks ago, the closest finish in IndyCar Series history, they can measure these things by millimeters, the differences of thousandths of a second. The video of my car 16 feet ahead of Helio (Castroneves) with the green light on.

From that standpoint, I'm not haunted by it. I guess I don't have the material things that show that I won the race. I don't have the trophy. I didn't get the money that comes along with it. But from the other side of it, I have that feeling that you long for when you're a kid in your driveway playing hockey and you're counting down five seconds left and you score the winning goal, when you're a kid. We were coming down to the closing stages of the race and I made an outside pass for the win. That's what every kid dreams about, whether you're shooting baskets and there's one second left on the clock and you make the basket when you're a kid dreaming about stuff like that. That's in my soul now. So I have that feeling of winning there, which I think is more important than having a piece of -- you know, a trophy on your shelf. After a while, you never look at it anymore and it just gets tarnished.

Paul Tracy with team owner, KV Racing Technology, Jimmy Vasser in the pits at the the 35th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, soon after the announcement that Tracy will be driving the Geico sponsored #15 KVRT Dallara in the upcoming INDY 500. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2009)

Q. You have the feeling. Maybe you'll get the actual hardware shortly.

PAUL TRACY: Yeah, we'll see. I'm excited about it. Get an opportunity to go back and try to do it.

Q. Probably the one great irony of the reunification last year was the fact that you lost your job. How have you been able to deal with that, watching everybody else move on to the new series where you're left on the sideline and your time clock is clicking away on your career?

PAUL TRACY: Obviously it's been frustrating. But as the merger -- the only way I can really say where I'm at today is because while the merger wheels were in process, I was being told a different story by (Gerry) Forsythe, that there wasn't going to be a merger, that I was going to continue to drive for them. That all didn't go the way it was told to me. So I was under contract to Forsythe. It took me a long time legally to be in a position where I was comfortable from a legal standpoint to go and drive for another team. So by the time I was able to do that, the season was already going and there was really no opportunity to get in another car.

Like I said before, with the result in Edmonton, I thought the door would be open. Nothing really happened. Nothing happened over this winter until the last three weeks. So, it has been a little bit frustrating. But I guess it's a lot of different factors that happen, whether it be economy, sponsorship and things like that.

Q. Has it basically in your mind been the economy? Is that the biggest stumbling block right now?

PAUL TRACY: It doesn't help. I think the economy, sponsorship dictates whether the wheels turn on the car. I haven't had a sponsor. I've gone out and found this deal with GEICO, a friend of mine, Doug Barnett, who does a lot of work with them, their NASCAR program. Without that I wouldn't be on the track. It's really a case of if you have money, you'll get a ride, and if you don't, then you sit.

Q. Has the 2002 race been a haunting thing since then? How did you get over it?

PAUL TRACY: I got over it the next week. I went to Milwaukee in the CART race and won there. I kind of let things go pretty easily. Obviously, I've won a lot of races since then, won a championship since then. Like I said, I've got that feeling that's burned inside of me of what it takes to win that race, but I don't have the material things that go along with it, which that's just the way it is.

Q. It's been a couple years since you've been on an oval and seven years since you've been on this one. Anything about that that concerns you or do you feel like once you get out there and get going everything will come back pretty quick?

PAUL TRACY: No, I think it will come back pretty quick. Obviously, I've been doing this for so long, have a lot of experience at it. I don't think it will take me very long to get back up to speed. It's not like I'm going there as a rookie, never seen the place, never been on a track like that. I've raced there a bunch of times, done lots of miles. So I don't think it will be too difficult for me.

Q. I know you joked at Long Beach, you were asked about whether you'd be interested in getting some extra track time, going out with the rookies. You said, 'Former winners aren't invited to do that.' If the extra track time was available, is that something you'd want to take advantage of or are you content to start with everybody else next week?

PAUL TRACY: I know they're talking to the league, I guess they have, apart from the rookie session, they have a refresher session, which is the extra miles that don't really cost anything in terms of the engine program. So if we can do that, we're talking to the league now about getting a handful of laps on the track before official practice starts on Wednesday. So we're trying to plan on that.

MODERATOR: Paul, thank you for taking the time to join us this afternoon. Appreciate that. We're looking forward to seeing you back here in Indianapolis next week.

PAUL TRACY: Thanks, guys.
Reference Here>>

... notes from The EDJE

Kansas INDY - Play By Play Via Tweet By Tweet

Vision Racing's team owner, Tony George, checking on "Tweets" in the Vision Racing Twitter account during morning warm ups before the race. Image Credit: Vision Racing

Kansas INDY - Play By Play Via Tweet By Tweet

The first oval race of the season has the teams and drivers of the IndyCar Series visiting Kansas Speedway and its 1.5 mile "tri-oval". It takes a blink of an eye to get around the track at over 200 miles per hour so the experiment of capturing the action on the track via "Tweets" on Twitter may be a tall challenge.


The weather at start time is threatening at best, wind and rain can become a factor that everyone may have to deal with. So let's begin and get this show on the track.

indy44Here's to a safe and rain free race people! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FuriousWedgeThat os one nasty looking radar

VERSUS comes on the screen live with the command for drivers to bring their cars to the course - a great Dan Weldon retrospective!

MyNameIsIRLFYI - About halfway through the stock car race at Talladega and the leader is...Sam Hornish Jr.

25 MPH winds gusting to 35 MPH sets the weather background of this gathering at Kansas Speedway.

Forboding skies above Kansas Speedway with nasty gusts of wind during Sunday warm up. Image Credit: Vision Racing

FuriousWedgeI want me one of those giant shopping carts on the Kansas track

TheEDJELooking forward to live tweeting the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 being run at Kansas Speedway!

luczodragonLatest radar shows rain coming. Hoping it holds off long enough for Kansas race to be official

Long Beach Grand Prix review on VERSUS ... a decent race and a decent reception from IRL to Los Angeles and from Los Angeles to the IRL.

VisionRacingVision Racing cars being called to the grid. Driver intros coming up. Have a nice race everyone.

TheEDJE@VisionRacing We will be watching on ALL channels - Have a good outing with RHR and Ed!!!

FastMachinesTime for the first oval race of the Indy Car season. Who's your favorite? I think Helio will win from the back row. #indycar

FuriousWedgeHow great would it be if Tony finally got his Indy win to go with a afro on the Borg-Warner and all the winner's photos.

MyNameIsIRL@FuriousWedge If - I mean WHEN - Kanaan wins at Indy he might decide to never cut that hair again.

CrashGladysHelio still grinning ear to ear ;-) #indycar

FuriousWedge@CrashGladys apparently grinning about Danica's SHAPE cover photo

MyNameIsIRLBTW - I'm on the LiveBlog now. And twitter. I've cloned myself. http://www.mynameisirl.com/...

TheEDJE @MyNameIsIRL Keep 'em coming, this is warming up to be a great New Media effort all around!! ... Oh, and Go Bobby D!

kvracing1min till Driver Start Your Engine!

DRIVERS, START YOUR ENGINES - Radio broadcast from the IRL officials stating row by row, 1-Hot, 2-Hot, 3-Hot ... pretty cool.

IndyCarSeriesRT: @kvracing: Driver start your engine, all out on track for first warmup lap

kvracingGreen Green Green at Kansas Speedway, let's hope the rain stays away!!

The field at the start of the 2009 Road Runner Turbo 300 race at Kansas Speedway. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

IndyCarPRGREEN FLAG: #02 Rahal leads field into Turn 1

LAP 5 Kanaan takes it three wide and has to back out - way tight

kvracingP4 after the start, gained 4 spots.

VisionRacingCarpenter is P7. RHR working the weight jacker. P21

IndyCarPRLap 8: Lead change: #9 Dixon takes lead from #02 Rahal with a pass on the frontstretch.

TheEDJE@IndyCarPR ... Bobby D remains at third

LAP 14 Vitor Meira slows and Helio Castroneves rear ends Meira, debris takes off EJ Viso's wing

Helio Castroneves, Penske Racing gets into the back of Vitor Meira, A.J. Foyt Enterprises. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

FuriousWedgeHelio and Vitor into each other; are we going to get words like 2007 Michigan? Looks like Viso caught debris too.

LAP 16 All cars in for the first pitstop - Doornbos out first

IndyCarPR#06 Doornbos hit a tire from the #02 team on exit.

kvracingPit stopped, changed tires and more fuel. Yellow Flag at the moment! If your watching tv, that was me with the umbrella:)

IndyCarPR#06 Doornbos has been sent to the rear of the field for hitting the pit equipment. New leader is #9 Dixon.

VisionRacing@KVracing 's Fiona gets airtime for twirling umbrella trick.

RESTART

TheEDJEGreat draft dicing action.

VisionRacingDixon leads on lap 25. Rahal and kanaan in pursuit. Ed is P6. Has been battling with Panther's Wheldon. P16 for Ryan.

VisionRacingCan't imagine how tough it must be to be battling this wind in turn 3+4

35 of 200 LAPS Complete

kvracingP5 after 35 laps and gradually pulling away from field, order is Dixon, Rahal, Kanaan, Briscoe, Moraes, Carpenter

IndyCarPRLap 40: #9 Dixon leads #02 Rahal by .6202 of a second. #13 Viso is off the pace.

EJ Viso out of the race - the damage suffered from the debris was more than just the wing.

FastMachinesMy Indy Car pick, HCN, is back to 10th after early trouble. #indycar

FuriousWedgeThe outside line is killing momentum in turns 3-4, we just watched it kill Marco, Whedon and Kanaan all rapid fire

VisionRacing"Light on grip overall." says Ed. 5 laps until pitstops. Very gusty for cars out there.

Doornbos gets lapped on LAP 64 while maintaining P18

VisionRacing"Light on grip overall." says Ed. 5 laps until pitstops. Very gusty for cars out there.

65 of 200 LAPS complete

IndyCarPRLap 71: Leader #9 Dixon on pit road for service.

Scott Dixon, Target Chip Ganassi Racing makes a pitstop - Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

FastMachinesWhy so NASCAR fans like crashfests? Big wreck with 8 to go, not a surprise.

VisionRacingStill loose in 3+4 says Ed. Currently P6. RHR is P15 and making gains. Had a good lap time.

IndyCarPRLap 80: Green flag stops complete. #9 Dixon leads #11 Kanaan by 3.3667 seconds.

85 of 200 LAPS Completed

IndyCarPRLap 90: #9 Dixon leads #11 Kanaan by 3.9404 seconds.

VisionRacingRHR being told to stiffen up front bar. He's having trouble staying on inside line. Ed is reporting a vibration in the 20 car.

IndyCarPRLap 93: #6 Briscoe to second place with a pass on the backstretch.

CAUTION - Luczo Dragon driver, Raphael Matos gets loose from the wash of the car in front and takes the car to the wall with a hard brush.

Pitstops all of the way around - LAP 99

FuriousWedgeI like the VS coverage but they seriously need a "Race off Pit Road" car listing

TheEDJE@FuriousWedge - I'm hip! Out of pit position graphics like NASCAR - Really!

RESTART LAP 105

Three wide and Dario gets racy - Graham Rahal passes on the inside - New tire for oval tracks - grippier!

chunter16Let's start calling it GAP- Gannassi, Andretti, Penske #irl

TheEDJE@chunter16 - That would be true except NHLR is breaking in and Vision is in seventh

IndyCarPRLap 120: #6 Briscoe leads #9 Dixon by .3678 of a second.

garytribIn MA [Marco Andretti] pit....watching a storm coming this way :(

VisionRacingThis tweet is dedicated to our sponsor William Rast CEO Colin Dyne. Happy Birthday from the Vision team. Now back to regular tweeting.

TheEDJE@VisionRacing - Nice play! It never hurts to be cordial ... and commercial.

IndyCarPRLap 130: #6 Briscoe leads #9 Dixon by .5202 of a second.

VisionRacingWeather is headed our way. Ryan not really sorry to hear that. Everyone has dialed it back a little. 130 laps complete. You can smell ra ...

VisionRacingWind has picked up. "Car is all over the place. Wicked loose." Says RHR. " That's the wind. Weather is coming" says Vision eng. Neil Fife.

MyNameIsIRLThis is starting to smell like a festival of fuel conservation.

FuriousWedge@MyNameIsIRL likely everyone trying to last until the rain

LAP146 - Stretching fuel so that the top teams can make it to the end ... if rain comes early. Top 3 Briscoe Dixon Castoneves

Dario on the wall as Briscoe pulls into the pits - waived through because the Yellow came out, Briscoe looses four positions. Dario was carrying too much speed into the pits and almost hits Graham Rahal.

IndyCarPRLap 153: Lead cars on pit road for final pit stops. Dixon wins race off of pit road followed by #3 Castroneves and #11

Scott Dixon, Target Chip Ganassi Racing passes Dan Wheldon, Panther Racing - Image Credit: Andy Sallee

155 of 200 LAPS Complete

VisionRacingWeather is 10 miles away. Ed in top10. "We're going to need a good restart Ed." Says Jeff Britton. No radio for Ed but he can hear team. Top 3 Dixon Castroneves Kanaan. This will be an important restart.

RESTART 41 LAPS to go - Flat out until the end - fuel is NOT an issue.

FastMachines40 to go for Indy Car. A great race is shaping up. #Indycar

IndyCarPRLap 170: #9 Dixon leads #3 Castroneves by .4703 of a second

MyNameIsIRLDidn't Arute say the rain was "10 minutes away" like 20 minutes ago. He'll NEVER get gig as a weatherman with calls like that.

VisionRacingEd battling Rahal for 9th. Lost the position. P10. 25 laps left. 20 car good on fuel.

kvracing25 laps to go, P11, Mario doing very well

CrashGladysCome on guys, beat the rain! #indycar

IndyCarPRLap 180: #9 Dixon leads #3 Castroneves by .4628 of a second.

MyNameIsIRLWith the white racing gloves I half expect Wheldon to be checking his car for dust.

TheEDJERahal gets the best of Mutoh - great patience

VisionRacingEd gunning for Wheldon now. Top 3 Dixon Castroneves Kanaan. RHR let's cars go by on inside. Still P15

kvracing10 laps to go, P11, Mario doing very well

IndyCarPRLap 190: #9 Dixon leads #3 Castroneves by .6733 of a second

TheEDJEDixon looks as though he has this one in the can fo the first win of the season.

Too bad all of the races are not Street/Road courses as opposed to this six race run of just Ovals!

kvracingMoraes finishes 11th at Road Runner Turbo Indy 300. KVRT crew, engineers and Mario all done a great job today :) Indy 500 here we come!!

IndyCarPRLap 200: CHECKERED. #9 Dixon wins the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 by .7104 of a second over #3 Castroneves.

FastMachinesDixon wins! Helio comes in second. #indycar

VisionRacingNice job guys. Ed finishes P9. RHR p15 and brings it home in one piece. Congrats Dixie. Top 5 are Dixon Castroneves Kanaan Briscoe Patrick

Podium: race winner Scott Dixon, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, second place Helio Castroneves, Team Penske, third place Tony Kanaan, Andretti Green Racing - Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2009)

So ends the third race of the 2009 season and the first Oval - the Transition Players got beat up some ... Will Power had to sit this one out because of contract reasons (Castroneves came back), Doornbos suffered a driving penalty - P12, Rahal had ugly understeer in 3 and 4 - P7 for his best ever Oval finish (previous best - P10), Moraes in at P11, and Justin Wilson finishes at P14. EJ Viso had to come out early due to debris from a contact crash in front of him damaged his car out of race worthiness.

In total season points, the Transition Players hold on to P8 (Rahal) and P9 (Wilson) going into the INDY 500.

See you all in Indiana when all roads lead to the INDY 500.

... notes from The EDJE