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This
afternoon they came close to filling the Indy 500 field, but I
was very disappointed in most of the speeds, and gratified that
Kenny Brack helped support my contention that if you have the
right stuff and right conditions, you can come very close to any
tow assisted practice run. Brack's crew admitted to a conservative
approach to his "Q" run, and when questioned as to how
much they "laid the wing back," they readily admitted
"not as much as the other two." After last weekend, I
felt that the risk reward factor in posting a fastest single and
4-lap and qualifying speed of the year would preclude an all out
run at the numbers. While Brack/RLR didn't go all-out, they sure
set the pace, leaving us to wonder just what might have happened
with good weather last weekend?. Here is a link to a great view
of the starting field as it stands now... http://www.indy500.com/grid.php
As
is usually the case, aXe was at Indy all day and sent these
photos.
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O/IRR
photo by aXe
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In the best
picture aXe has sent so far, here is Kenny Brack on his
"Q" run. Note the rear wing angle, lower in the back.
but not to the degree of Danica's last week. I have that picture
to back it up, but I'm waiting for someone to dispute my claim.
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AJ Foyt IV blows
up a Toyota engine.
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In this picture,
what aXe was probably trying to show was how much more positive
wing angle Team Penske is using with the race setup, but I think
I might have detected another issue, a quick adjustment feature
for the rear wing, I'll know more when I arrive in Indy on
Wednesday. Last year I got an insider tip that I should go over
to the Penske garages, look at their rear wing mounts and try to
get a picture. Hey, if you point me in the right direction, I'm
all over it. This is what I saw and posted.
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While aXe's shot
give me the view of the wing mount I would like, there appears
to be a smaller and lighter version of the adjuster in his
picture. Why the need? While I'm not sure the team ever adjusted
the rear wing in the race, the ability to make a quick and easy
change, much in the same manner as they do the front wings, made
it worth the effort. MTP didn't think of this on there own,
Dallara actually sold a similar device in the past, but once
Penske installed theirs, everyone had to have one, and in the
two days after Carb Day, most of the teams spent time better
suited for race prep. doing wing adjuster installations.
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O/IRR
file photo.
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This
is the TCGR version,
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O/IRR
file photo.
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The
Haas version, which I think was the one sold by Dallara, mostly
because it looks the same as the one from the AGR car below.
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O/IRR
file photo.
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Now
I'm not saying I'm the one that caused all this work, but I did
see my OWR work, which is where I posted the pictures, on
several Media Room laptops.
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O/IRR
file photo
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This is the
"have-not" version, from a D&R car I believe.
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Here are
Saturdays practice results, as posted by IndyCar T&S. As you
can see, while it was warmer and more windy this afternoon than
in early practice, Brack only lost a half-mph, he must have
caught a tow from a church bus, southbound on Georgetown Rd.
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89th
Indianapolis
500
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Pos
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Status
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Driver
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Best Time
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Best Speed
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1
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Pit
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Kenny Brack (15)
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39.3992
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228.431
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2
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Pit
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Scott Sharp (8T)
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39.7301
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226.529
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3
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Pit
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Helio Castroneves (3T)
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39.7347
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226.502
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4
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Pit
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Tomas Scheckter (4)
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39.7637
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226.337
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5
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Pit
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Adrian Fernandez (5)
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39.7685
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226.310
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6
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Pit
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Sam Hornish Jr. (6T)
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39.9763
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225.133
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7
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Pit
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Vitor Meira (17T)
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39.9983
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225.010
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8
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Pit
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Ryan Briscoe (33T)
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40.0167
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224.906
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9
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Pit
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Roger Yasukawa (24)
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40.0361
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224.797
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10
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Pit
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Kosuke Matsuura (55T)
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40.0426
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224.761
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11
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Pit
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Buddy Lazier (95)
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40.0757
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224.575
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12
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Pit
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Tomas Enge (2)
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40.2061
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223.847
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13
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Pit
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Scott Dixon (9)
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40.2340
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223.691
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14
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Pit
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Sam Hornish Jr. (6)
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40.2435
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223.639
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15
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Pit
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Tomas Enge (2T)
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40.2854
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223.406
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16
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Pit
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Richie Hearn (70)
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40.2960
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223.347
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17
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Pit
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Patrick Carpentier (83)
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40.3357
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223.127
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18
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Pit
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Helio Castroneves (3)
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40.4164
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222.682
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19
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Pit
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Ed Carpenter (20)
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40.4706
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222.384
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20
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Pit
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Jaques Lazier (21)
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40.4789
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222.338
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21
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Pit
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Marty Roth (25)
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40.5344
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222.034
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22
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Pit
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A.J. Foyt IV (14)
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40.7765
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220.715
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23
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Pit
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Alex Barron (51T)
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