No 'bumping' on Bump Day

Jeff Simmons found himself in the Mo Nunn Racing No. 21 Toyota-powered Dallara on Saturday, bringing the number to 32. At issue now is whether Greg Ray, Panther Racing, A.J. Foyt or possibly another team will come up with one last entry Sunday to fill the 33-car field.

As it stands, 26 cars are in the race heading into Sunday's final qualifying session. Six non-qualified cars practiced Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including the last-minute deal that put Simmons in one of Nunn's cars.

The car/driver combinations expected to make attempts Sunday are:

Marty Roth, who has been practicing since opening day in his No. 25 Marty Roth Racing Toyota/Dallara.

Richie Hearn, who practiced Saturday in the No. 33 Panoz G Force that Sam Schmidt leased from Roger Penske.

Buddy Lazier, fastest of the non-qualifiers Saturday in the No. 91 Dallara entered by Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Hemelgarn Racing.

P.J. Jones, who practiced Saturday in Greg Beck's No. 98 Dallara.

Robby McGehee, who announced a deal Friday with PDM Racing, but didn't get on the track until the final 10 minutes of Saturday's practice session.

Simmons, who announced the Nunn deal shortly after finishing second in Saturday's Menards Infiniti Pro Series race, then shook down Nunn's No. 12T Dallara late in the day.

"I'm getting the opportunity of a lifetime," Simmons said. "It goes to show that IndyCar Series owners are watching the Pro Series races, and they are looking for new talent."

If all six of the drivers make qualifying runs tomorrow, the grid will have 32 cars. The final car is likely to come from either Ray, an IRL IndyCar Series regular who's been trying to find funding but hasn't been on the track yet this month; Panther, which has its No. 44 car available but hasn't announced a driver; or Foyt, who put Jaques Lazier in his No. 14T car Friday, then quickly said he doesn't intend to run a third car in the race.

"I've got two cars; I don't need three," said Foyt, who has cars driven by son Larry and grandson A.J. IV in the race. "It was a shakedown, just to let him feel the car. I had it pretty soft for Anthony, and I just wanted to see what [Jaques'] feelings were on the car.

As the combinations to reach 33 were mulled Saturday, drivers and teams completed their 11th-hour adjustments before the May 30 race. After Sunday's qualifying and practice sessions, just two hours of practice remain before the race.

Adrian Fernandez again had the fastest lap during Saturday's session, marking the second consecutive day atop the chart and eighth time since practice began May 9 that he's put one of his Fernandez Racing Honda-powered G Forces among the top five.

The Indianapolis 500 has had at least 33 cars in all but one race since 1928. The issue of 33 cars became controversial when IMS and IRL president Tony George indicated 33 cars weren't a necessity, calling the tradition "just a number."

Sunday's qualifying session begins at 1 pm EDT following a 1-hour 15-minute practice session.