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A Carb Day lineup
of "Christmas Tree's," the stands used to support the
body pieces while the cars are being prepared.
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The
AGR/Dan Wheldon Dallara in the fueling line, or in this case,
make that read "defueling." They take all of the fuel
out of the car, fill it back up, go out and run and then fill it
back up to get a true picture of fuel mileage. AT times they
also run the car dry of fuel and actually stop on the track,
then when they fill the tank they get a "useable amount of
fuel" number.
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This is truly one
of the prettiest cars in this year's field, the Newman Haas
entry for Bruno Junqueira, the team car for Sebastian Bourdais
is very similar. Please not that I have carefully cropped the
photo to again demonstrate the amount of camber (the top of the
tires lean towards the inside of the track) in these cars. To
the practiced eye, you can also tell how "soft" the
car is setup by looking at the camber. A "soft car"
setup has much more suspension travel and camber/caster change.
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The
Team Penske Dallara Toyota of Sam Hornish Jr. goes through tech
inspection prior to a Carb Day run. The team wants to be sure
they have a "legal" car before they confirm that they
have a workable setup.
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(Futaba Freedom 100, the
finish) , It's been quite a race, with frequent lead changes.
Jon Herb brought out the caution with a late race spin, the race
will be restarted with three laps to go... Crash at the back of
the pack, Marco Andretti involved. Nick Bussell pinched the car
low and under the white line, and in spinning,
caused two others, including Andretti to spin without hitting
anything. Jamie Camara wins in a half-mile drag race to the
finish, a mixed green/checkered flag ending, that's a first!
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aXe's grandson Tyler and another
guy get a photo opp with Mishael Abbott at IMS.
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The #77 car and
crew in happier times Thursday, after qualifying 3rd.
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(Futuba Freedom
100 restarted) There was only a short rain delay, it is now
almost perfect and they are now 13 laps in with Jay Drake the
leading "name" driver. These cars run 100 miles, so we
are close to half way. It's Camara, Cunningham Herb and
"Just Al" Unser at half-way.
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(A Buddy Lazier update) I sent
aXe over to the garage area for pictures and news he could find
out. The Byrd Brothers Panther Racing Team was quick to close
the garage door, so there are no pictures to be had, but aXe did
learn that Buddy heard something snap and the car darted into
the wall. aXe says all four corners are damaged, but the car is
being repaired. Dallara engineers are in the garage looking at
the car.
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(12:00 IMS time, session over)
Danica Patrick posted the fastest speed in the Carb Day practice
session, followed by the usual "cast of players,"
headed by Tony Kanaan, Dan Wheldon, Sam Hornish and Scott Sharp.
While there was a distinct Honda flavor to the runs, there were
two of the fast Chevy's in the top ten and the Toyota of
Hornish. You still have to weed through a bunch of Hondas to
find any TRD Toyota engines, namely Darren Manning in one of the
TCGR cars in 18th.
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This
is Danica Patrick in one of the few moments where she is easily accessible,
at the press conference for the driver that sets the fast speed
of the day. This is a very serious young lady, and I had to
shoot 20 pictures to catch the smile I was looking for in the
top photo.
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(11:45) It appears like the
pace is beginning to slow now, we have probably seen all we will
see, and the "magic number" was 20 laps, once they put
that many laps on the car, most are parking them. Vitor Meira
appears to be the exception though, now at 24 laps. Several
teams, including Team Penske skipped the early rush and are
working the track now. Tony Kanaan, a solid favorite on most
lists has now run 26 laps.
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(11:35) "Debris" caution
just ending, in years past there was plenty of running time,
more than 90 minutes, and few cars used much of it. Now, with
only an hour, the track is packed with cars at speed, go figure.
I'm seeing lots of end-of-the -straightaway passing and drivers
like Wheldon looking to fall in behind some of the faster cars
to check them out.
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(11:30, IMS time) If they were
slow to get up to speed before the Lazier incident, they are all
over it now! Danica Patrick setting the pace, followed by
Wheldon and Hornish, Danica at 225.597. I have sent aXe to the
garage area to get a picture of the damage to the Lazier car. I
was wrong about them being late out of the garage, but perhaps
there was some thrash going on that allowed something to be
missed. In addition, had Buddy made several slow shakedown laps,
the problem may have been found.
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(Buddy Lazier in the fence) Sorry, I had the whole
episode recounted and hit save and got a lock-up. It appears
that Buddy was in his first at-speed lap and coming through turn
four something broke on the car, sending the car into the wall
and causing extensive front end damage. I can't recall the last
time a qualified car has been crashed. Panther Racing has two
backup cars ready, but Buddy had a new Dallara. He was so fresh
to the track that there wasn't even an out lap speed.
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(Track opens under running
yellow) There is a new warning light system and Brian Barnhart
wanted to have the drivers check out how it works. Green Flag...
Giaffone and Danica only two on the track, going slow...These
are fresh engines, they will run several slow laps, make a leak
check and turn them loose... Helio first to speed at 222!
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(5-27-05) Conditions couldn't
be more perfect here at IMS, and if the trouble we had finding a
clog-free passage into the speedway before 8:00 AM are any
indication, the place will be packed. Later today there will
also be the Pit Stop competition, and a great concert. I off to
fill the digital camera with images.
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(Less than 30 minutes to
practice) This is the Buddy Lazier car, appearing woefully
unready to practice, but while others are on pit road, in the
inspection line or at the fuelling station, looks can be deceiving.
The crew may hank all the body work and roll it out to be first
to take the green flag, but I doubt it. Stay tuned to the Home
Page today, I'll post everything here, and move it later...
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