Monday notebook: Stewart, Vasser get first runs

Vasser was able to turn in the 10th fastest speed of Monday's practice at 219.381 miles per hour in a G Force-Oldsmobile Aurora.

"We did a few laps just to get used to it," Vasser said. "We will certainly find the speed we need in the few days forthcoming. The car was set up pretty conservative. It is great to be back at the Speedway. We would like to win that trophy. It's kind of weird wearing the red suit. I was starting to like my plain black one."

Vasser raced for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing from 1995 until he was released last season. He drives for Patrick Racing in CART this season.

Stewart, winner of the NASCAR Winston Cup race at Richmond, Virginia on Saturday night, is competing in his first Indy 500 since finishing ninth in 1999. He had the 26th fastest speed Monday at 215.474 mph.

"We just knocked the cobwebs off," Stewart said. "We didn't set the world on fire, and we didn't get too many laps in. It's a great group of guys. We're really excited. This is a really good opportunity. It was just a great feeling riding out on the golf cart, and people were screaming and cheering for me. It's nice to be home.

"But it will be a long month. There are lots of people who want to see me and talk to me and sign autographs. But I have to talk to my engineers. This is a whole new team for me, and we have to get to know each other."

Monday's practice session was ended after a heavy rainstorm swept through the track at 2:58 p.m.



Robby Gordon took his first laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday because his team owner, A.J. Foyt, doesn't like to run a race car on opening day at Indy. The extra day off didn't seem to matter, as Gordon was the seventh-fastest driver of the day at 220.028 miles per hour in a Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora.

"I'm pretty happy," he said. "I haven't driven an Indy car in a year, so to come out and finish in the top 10 [seventh] on the first day, that's pretty good. We haven't even tried to go fast yet. I just want to get used to working with the team and driving the Indy car.

"I'm happy for the opportunity to be back with A.J. again, and I'm looking forward to working with Conseco. It's going be a fun, tough and competitive month. It's great to be back in Indianapolis."

Gordon began the season as the driver of the Kodak Chevrolet in NASCAR Winston Cup, but his five-year deal with team owner Larry McClure came to an abrupt end after just five races. Out of a ride and possibly out of a series, Gordon has returned to the team owner that gave him an Indy car ride for the full 1993 season.

"I've made a name for myself in Indy car racing, but not in NASCAR," Gordon said. "I haven't done anything in NASCAR to make a name for myself. I don't know what direction my career will take at this point."

Gordon has competed in six previous Indianapolis 500s with fifth-place finishes in 1994 and 1995, a fourth in 1999 and a sixth-place finish last year.

"If you look back, I could have won nearly every race that I have been in. I was behind Scott Goodyear on that pace car deal (in 1995), but I pitted a lap before, thinking I had a flat tyre, which I didn't," Gordon recalled. "I passed Arie, then caught on fire (in 1997), and of course I ran out of fuel while leading (in 1999). I have had a good run here, and my career could use a win right now."



Defending Indianapolis 500 pole winner Greg Ray was the fastest driver in practice for the second straight day. He drove his backup Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora to the top of the speed list at 222.976 miles per hour.

In fact, Ray's other car was nearly as fast, turning a lap at 221.130 mph for the third fastest lap of the day.

"We've only been in two cars trying two different setups," Ray said. "I was pleasantly surprised with the 22 car. I had a feeling that I wouldn't like the set-up, but it was coming off the corner strong. I was very pleased with
how it handled.

"We're here for the biggest race in the world. The conditions were good on Sunday. We had a light fuel load and new tyres. It wasn't throwing down the gauntlet. I don't think that is the gauntlet, I think the gauntlet will be 225 or 226."

Ray is convinced that starting on the pole at Indianapolis is a major step toward winning the race, although he finished 33rd after starting on the pole last year.

"My personal opinion is starting on the pole is always good," Ray said. "It's good for the sponsors, and it's good for the team. Being up front is good. You get clean air and set the pace. Even if a guy is a half mph faster than you, he still may not be able to pass you."



Arie Luyendyk, who is attempting to win his third Indianapolis 500 after a one-year layoff, was the second fastest driver in Monday's practice session. Luyendyk turned a lap at 221.340 miles per hour in a G Force/Oldsmobile Aurora.

"So far things have gone well," Luyendyk said. "I'm having fun and I'm making laps that make sense. We're making full fuel runs. I stayed in shape by racing shifter karts, and I tested at Las Vegas and here. But yesterday I still hurt in some new places. Today was much better."

Luyendyk believes the competition for this year's Indianapolis 500 is very strong, which makes his goal of winning a third Indy 500 very difficult.

"All the IRL teams are getting stronger and stronger, and then we've added some of the CART teams, but because of the equipment and the rules of the IRL, there are no unfair advantages," Luyendyk said.