Kenny Brack sets the Indy pace on at 228.431 mph
source:
irl.racing-live.com
Kenny Brack set the fastest times in all of 2005
Indianapolis 500 qualifying, posting both the best single and four lap
qualifying speeds early on Saturday. Unfortunately, his 227.598mile per hour
qualifying average was turned on the second weekend of qualifying so he will
start in the 23rd position for the 89th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Brack, from Arvika, Sweden, was named earlier this week to replace defending
Indy 500 champion Buddy Rice in the #15 Rahal Letterman Racing ride. Brack
actually moves back into the IndyCar Series ride that he was forced to give up
after serious accident at the end of 2003 forced him to miss the start of the
2004 season while going through rehabilitation.
"I'm here to do the best that I can, and hopefully that's pretty good," said
Brack.
Brack had turned a lap of 228.431mph in Saturday morning's practice session
before going out fifth in line to qualify. Brack turned a 227.940mph on his
first lap, which topped the fastest lap set by his teammate Danica Patrick
during qualifying last weekend.
Brack won the Indianapolis 500 in 1999 running for A.J. Foyt. His four lap
average of 227.598mph on Saturday just nudged the four-lap average of 2005 pole
winner Tony Kanaan who had posted a 227.566mph run.
The first driver out Saturday was Ryan Briscoe, from Sydney, Austrailia.
Briscoe had wrecked in his Target Chip Ganassi Racing car in his first attempt
to qualify last week. Briscoe turned a 224.080mph four lap average to get into
his first Indy 500.
Next out was Patrick Carpentier, of La Salle, Quebec, who brushed the outside
retaining wall at the exit of turn one on his first lap but still completed the
222.346mph lap. When he brushed the wall again in almost the same spot on his
second lap he pulled off.
Marty Roth, from Toronto, Canada, came out and turned a 219.497mph four lap
average to qualify for his second straight Indy 500. Jaques Lazier followed Roth
on the track but waved off after he also brushed the wall between turns one and
two.
Carpentier and Lazier would both come back out after Brack's high speed run and
successfully qualify for the 500.
Qualifying continues at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway until 6 p.m. EST. Once
positions 23 through 33 are filled, bumping will take place amongst today's
qualifiers. Tomorrow's qualification program allows for the bumping of the
slowest car from the field of thirty- three. At this time there are only 33
car/driver combinations, so it will take some additional deal making for any
bumping to occur on either Saturday or Sunday of this weekend.