Patrick fastest as practice resumes

Concentrating on race set-up, Patrick and her No. 7 Andretti Green Racing Honda/Dallara were clocked at 40.6891 seconds - 221.189 mph - fastest among the 26 cars that practiced Wednesday, the first day after a two-day layoff at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"I'm the happiest I've been this month," Patrick said. "It felt like a race car. It was consistent in traffic. We're simulating race conditions, which generates confidence. If it's not windy, it won't change my attitude about the car. It's very good right now."

Patrick's lap was little more than a tenth better than Scott Dixon's best lap in the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda/Dallara. Patrick will start eighth in the May 27 race, while Dixon will start fourth.

Others showing speed as the regulars got down to fine-tuning race setups were Sam Hornish Jr, who was third-fastest of the day at 220.484 mph in the No. 6 Team Penske Honda/Dallara; Marco Andretti, fourth-best at 220.399 mph in the No. 26 AGR Honda/Dallara; and front-row starter Dario Franchitti, fifth-best at 220.131 mph in the No. 27 AGR Honda/Dallara.

Jaques Lazier was the fastest among the drivers who have yet to qualify for the race, recording a lap of 217.159 mph in the No. 21 Playa Del Racing Honda/Panoz. Roger Yasukawa, Jon Herb, Jimmy Kite, P.J. Jones, Milka Duno also turned practice laps, and Phil Giebler presented the No. 31 Playa Del Racing Honda/Panoz but didn't practice.

Meanwhile, Vitor Meira shook down the No. 33 Panther Honda/Dallara intended for John Andretti, making eight total cars among the 11 needed to fill the field. Marty Roth, Al Unser Jr. and Stephan Gregoire did not participate in Wednesday's practice session.

Kite crashed midway through the session, but did only minor damage to the No. 18 PDM Racing Honda/Panoz. "I wasn't going fast enough to hit anything that hard. We were just shaking the car down. I don't know if something broke or what. I was only going 206 into the corner."

Practice continues Thursday and Friday before the final weekend of qualifying. Helio Castroneves is on the pole for the race in the No. 3 Penske Honda/Dallara, followed by Kanaan in the No. 11 AGR Honda/Dallara and Franchitti.

Pos  Driver             Chassis  Speed
 1.  Danica Patrick     Dallara  221.189
 2.  Scott Dixon        Dallara  220.556
 3.  Sam Hornish Jr.    Dallara  220.484
 4.  Marco Andretti     Dallara  220.399
 5.  Dario Franchitti   Dallara  220.131
 6.  Ryan Briscoe       Dallara  219.972
 7.  Tony Kanaan        Dallara  219.845
 8.  Dan Wheldon        Dallara  219.656
 9.  Helio Castroneves  Dallara  219.648
10.  Tomas Scheckter    Dallara  219.589
11.  Ed Carpenter       Dallara  219.120
12.  Jeff Simmons       Dallara  218.360
13.  Michael Andretti   Dallara  218.263
14.  A.J. Foyt IV       Dallara  217.215
15.  Jaques Lazier      Panoz    217.159
16.  Davey Hamilton     Dallara  216.543
17.  Roger Yasukawa     Dallara  216.503
18.  Jon Herb           Dallara  215.889
19.  Kosuke Matsuura    Dallara  215.739
20.  Vitor Meira        Dallara  215.476
21.  Sarah Fisher       Dallara  215.252
22.  Buddy Lazier       Dallara  214.870
23.  Scott Sharp        Dallara  213.732
24.  Jimmy Kite         Panoz    204.193
25.  P.J. Jones         Dallara  197.503
26.  Milka Duno         Dallara  169.036