Systems check source: indycar.com / Dave Lewandowski Al Unser spoke from the heart before 33 drivers took the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway for their final tune-up and systems check of May. Forty-eight hours prior to the 91st Indianapolis 500, the four-time 500-Mile Race winner (the last 20 years ago) was as much reminding the assembled as he was reminiscing of his glory days. Of course, everyone intently listened. "I still say it's the greatest race in the world," said Unser, a driver coach and all-around ambassador for the sanctioning Indy Racing League. "When I was growing up, that's all I dreamed about. When I decided I wanted to be a race car driver, I always thought I would like to run at Indy. "At first you want to be able to, then you're able to and you want to finish because it's not an easy race to finish. When you finish it, then you want to do better the next year. All of a sudden, you get to the No. 1 spot and it's just unbelievable. It's a thrill in a man's career that is outstanding in coming away from beating the very best. "After that, then you take your chances. You wonder why you can't win it every year because why were you able to win it one year. Luckily, I won it two years in a row (1970, '71). Then it took me a while to win it again. You coulda and shoulda but you didn't. It's a hard place to win. When you win it, you should be very grateful for everything that happened that day." The words will linger in the psyche of the drivers before they walk onto the largest motorsports stage in the world May 27. More than 250,000 spectators in the cavernous facility and a worldwide audience of more than 440 million households will watch the drama unfold on the world's most famous race course. The final practice session on Miller Lite Carb Day was to test systems, the new Honda powerplant installed for the grueling 500 miles and each other. Tony Kanaan, driving the No. 11 Team 7-Eleven car for Andretti Green Racing, topped the speed chart with a quick lap of 225.467 mph (39.9171 seconds) of his 24. Teammates Dario Franchitti (223.807 mph in the No. 27 Canadian Club car) and Michael Andretti (223.575 mph in the No. 39 Jim Beam/Motorola car) were right behind.
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