Pre race practice for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 officially got underway on Sunday with the traditional Rookie Orientation Practice combined with a refresher course for some of the returning drivers. source: crash.net With a small number of rookies competing this year, only half a dozen drivers turned laps at the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Michael and Marco Andretti leading the way comfortably. Preparing for his first IRL race since the 2003 Indy 500 it was Michael Andretti who topped the charts on day one, setting a best average lap speed of 220.999mph in his new #1 Jim Beam backed Dallara-Honda, just ahead of his son and the first real Indy 500 rookie Marco Andretti. The younger Andretti, who was the first car to hit the track during the official 'Month of May,' sailed through his mandatory Rookie Orientation session, working his way past all four speed brackets within a couple of hours of taking to the track. Marco, who is one of five rookie of the year candidates so far named for this year's Indy 500, ended the day just a fraction slower than his dad, setting a best lap of 220.572mph in his #26 NYSE Group Dallara-Honda. Behind the two Andretti-Green Racing teammates there was a sizeable gulf in average speeds with Carmelo-Hemelgarn Racing's PJ Chesson third fastest on 214.302mph, Arie Luyendyk Jr fourth quickest at 206.468mph, Al Unser Jr fifth at 206.387 and Townsend Bell sixth at 113.065mph after completing just two laps. Former Champ Car driver Bell was confirmed as Vision Racing's third entry on Sunday and will drive the #90 Dallara-Honda this month.
Recent Articles
|
Racing Multimedia
Recommendations |