Indy 500: Red flags fly

The red flag was displayed, and cars were parked and covered while teams awaited official word on resumption of the race. Light rain began on the 22nd lap, and cars circled the track under yellow before heavier rain caused the race to be red-flagged.

Dan Wheldon led Helio Castroneves when the delay came. Tony Kanaan was third and pole-winner Buddy Rice fourth. Sam Hornish Jr. was fifth, Kosuke Matsuura sixth, Adrian Fernandez seventh, Bryan Herta eighth, Tomas Scheckter ninth and Vitor Meira 10th.

Robby Gordon who was running 16th at the time, has boarded a helicopter and left the Speedway in order to make it in time to compete in the Coca Cola 600 Nextel Cup race at Charlotte. Meanwhile, his relief driver, Jaques Lazier, was preparing to drive Gordon's car should the race resume today. Gordon needed to leave Indianapolis by 10:45pm BST in order to reach the Lowe's Motor Speedway.

"We got put in a situation where we ran out of time. We have to go South," Gordon said as he was leaving. "Hopefully we can come back tomorrow and finish it." Gordon jumped from 18th to 10th on the first lap. "I told Jaques if he gets in the car that he'll have a good car."

According to radar, severe weather was moving toward Indianapolis Motor Speedway from the southwest. The race is not considered official until at least 101 laps are completed.

Rice bolted to the early lead over three Andretti Green Racing drivers -- Dario Franchitti, Kanaan and Wheldon. On the 12th lap, A.J. Foyt IV's car spun and hit the wall in the first turn. The ensuing caution period filled the pits on the next lap.

Foyt was not injured in the crash, but his ego was bruised. His grandfather, A.J. Foyt, criticised his driver on live television. "He won't back off and wait until we can get him to the pits," the elder Foyt said. "Maybe he'll learn from this."

Foyt IV emerged from the infield care center in good health but somewhat subdued. "I'm not OK, but I'm alright," he said. "It's stupid on my part not to be more patient."

Alex Barron and Bryan Herta stayed on the track as the leaders pitted. Barron assumed the lead, with Herta second. Wheldon was first out of the pits and took over third position. As the green flag waved on the 16th lap, Herta shot past Barron for the lead. Moments later, Wheldon passed his AGR teammate for the lead.

If the race does not resume Sunday, it is expected to resume Monday at 18:00 BST. Forecasts for Monday call for partly cloudy skies and a 20 percent chance of rain.