Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505080108
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: INDIANAPOLIS LENGTH: Medium
Teammates Arie Luyendyk and Scott Brayton topped 232 mph in their new Menard-powered Lolas on Saturday, the fastest opening day of practice in Indianapolis 500 history.
A slow early session of practice, when car owner Dick Simon took the wheel for the first time in seven years, gave way to an afternoon duel between Luyendyk, the 1990 Indy winner, and Brayton, who has the most previous Indy starts among all active drivers.
Using the Menard V6, a modified version of the Buick stock block engine Roberto Guerrero used in setting one- and four-lap qualifying records three years ago, Luyendyk reached 233.281 mph during the final hour of practice. That topped the previous first-day best of 229.609 by Jim Crawford in 1992 but fell just short of Crawford's unofficial track record of 233.433 set later during practice that year.
Brayton, who had the fastest speed on the first day of practice a year ago, was clocked at 232.408 mph. Luyendyk also had the third-fastest speed at 229.323 in his backup car, about 3 mph better than any of the other 15 drivers who practiced.
``The Menard V6 is powerful. There's a couple of things we need to iron out with the engine, but the package is very good,'' said Luyendyk.
``The conditions were good,'' he added. ``I think we can get some more out of the cars. ... The goal is to come out here every day and do that and get the car comfortable.''
Brayton said the Team Menard cars should be favorites for the pole position during qualifying next Saturday.
``We'd certainly like to think so. We've worked very hard at it,'' Brayton said. ``I can tell you everybody on this team is going to give everything they've got. If somebody else has more to give, then may the best man win. But we're going to try real hard, and hopefully we've done our homework and it'll pay off on race day.''
Brayton, who will be trying for his 14th Indy start, said he didn't know if the Menards could go any faster.
``I really can't say. Our straight-line speeds are off a little bit from where we were with cooler temperatures, which should be expected. But I just have to say there's still some left,'' he said.
Jacques Villeneuve, the runner-up and rookie of the year in 1994, had the fourth-fastest speed at 226.335. Raul Boesel was next at 224.528 in his backup car.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING
Memo: longer version ran in the New River edition