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Indy Opens for Testing

© Ron Eichhorn

Preparations for the 84th running of the Indianapolis 500 began this week as the track was made available for four days of open testing. Greg Ray, driving the #1 Conseco Oldsmobile set the pace as he turned the top speed during testing at 222.833 mph. Ray, driving for Team Menard, took advantage of the cool, sunny weather to make himself the early favorite to win the pole on May 20. Scott Sharp and Eddie Cheever Jr. are also strong contenders to be on top on Pole Day. Sharp, also driving an Oldsmobile was second fastest during testing, with a lap of 222.343, and in a surprise, 1998 winner, Cheever took the only Infiniti entered during practice and turned the third best speed at 222.162 mph.

Wednesday was a special day for rookie hopeful, Casey Mears, son of former Indy Car driver Roger Mears and nephew of Rick Mears. Casey and Guy Smith both took advantage of the track conditions to pass their Rookie Orientation Tests. Overall, eight drivers passed Rookie Tests during the week. Others who became eligible to qualify for the "500" were Sam Hornish Jr., Ross Cheever (Eddie's brother), Airton Dare, Memo Gidley, Shigeaki Hattori and Sarah Fisher.

For readers who might be wondering, the Rookie Orientation Test is a feature unique to the Indianapolis 500. No matter how much experience a driver has in other forms of racing or at other tracks, until they've raced at Indy, they are considered a rookie and must prove they deserve to be on the same track with the veterans. This rule, however, was waived this year for CART defending champion Juan Montoya. The management at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IRL officials agreed that Montoya's experience with CART, made him uniquely qualified to be granted this exception. Other drivers, however, had to pass the test, conducted under the watchful eye of such veteran drivers as Al Unser, Sr. It involves driving 10 laps (25 miles) at progressively higher speeds. The test begins with Phase One, with the rookie driver averaging between 195 - 200 mph. Phase 2 increases the speed to 200 - 205 mph, and in Phase 3 average speeds must be between 205 - 210. The final phase of the test allows the rookie driver to exceed 210 mph during the 10 lap period of observation. Only after passing this test, can a driver become eligible to attempt to qualify for the Memorial Day classic, the Indy 500..

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