INDIANAPOLIS — John Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay provided the drama Sunday, saving their best efforts for the final 10 minutes at the end of four days of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500.
Both wound up in the 33-car field for Sunday’s race, thanks to gutsy runs with time running out on another emotional “Bump Day” on the famed 2.5-mile Brickyard oval.
“I’m glad the race isn’t tomorrow,” Andretti said. “I’m physically, mentally, just totally exhausted.”
Hunter-Reay said he considers himself lucky to make the race after bumping Indy rookie Alex Tagliani, who was sitting in his car, waiting and hoping for one more chance.
The day began with 1996 race winner Buddy Lazier, 2002 pole-winner Bruno Junqueira and Indy rookie Stanton Barrett the only drivers with a chance to bump their way into the field. Only Junqueira made it, turning a four- lap average of 221.115 mph. But late Sunday night, Conquest Racing put Tagliani in its No. 36 entry, replacing Junqueira.
Lazier’s absence ends the longest active streak of consecutive Indy starts at 14. He was the only driver to start every 500 since the inception of the Indy Racing League in 1996.
Schumacher notches victory.
Tony Schumacher won his third top-fuel victory of the season, beating Doug Kalitta in the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway. Del Worsham and Mike Edwards won their divisions.
