Day Three Qualifications
By Andrew Cutler
May 17 2009
Things were already running behind the planned schedule due to the clean-up from overnight/early morning storms. Finally, at about 12:45, EJ Viso sat strapped into his car & waiting for the word to begin his qualification run when the dark skies opened up yet again, forcing another nearly three hour delay in the proceedings.
Welcome to the world of oval racing, where the weather is the one opponent that you just don't even try to compete against.
Around 2pm the rain slowed to a trickle, then a mist, & then was gone. By 3:30pm the sun was out and the jet driers had the situation well in hand. It was finally time to get Day Three qualifiactions underway.
EJ Viso was the first out, something of a "guinea pig" on a now green track in occasionally gusty winds. He held on just fine, posting a four lap average in the high 219 mph range. Nine other drivers followed in quick succesion. Robert Doornbos, Townsend Bell, Oriol Servia, Tomas Scheckter, Buddy Lazier, Nelson Philippe & Ryan Hunter-Reay all finished their runs: John Andretti & Milka Duno had to abort theirs.
Then a waiting game began. While drivers who already qualified during the previous weekend came out to work on their race set-ups, those still not in the show looked for more speed & counted the minutes down until about 5:30, 1/2 hour before the track closed.
Then came the final flurry of qualifications runs. Mike Conway & Alex Tagliani joined the field. John Andretti's 2nd attempt of the day was good enough to make the show (for now). With all 11 remaining spots now filled, bumping began just a bit early as Milka Duno knocked '96 Indy champion Buddy Lazier out in the final run of the day.
Lazier, Stanton Barrett & Bruno Junqueria, who's deal with Conquest Racing was announced just today, will all be back on Sunday trying to fight their way into the field. The slowest half dozen or so drivers currently in the field will also be back, ready to defend their spots.
Bump Day qualifications begins at noon.
Here is the grid as it stands after Day Three:
Here is a link to see the best of the pictures that I took during Day Three qualifications:
http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e114/IndyAndy/Indy%2009%20-%20Q%20Day%20Three/