| Brickyard 400 News: |
| Menards Infiniti Pro Series veteran Jeff Simmons was the quickest of 15 drivers who participated March 24 in the series first test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Simmons turned a top lap of 1 minute, 25.8208 seconds, 109.064 mph in the No. 24 Team ISI Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone to lead the time charts by more than a second. Drivers and teams in the IndyCar Series primary ladder series prepared for its historic race on the 2.605-mile road course during the United States Grand Prix weekend Free spirit Englishman Dan Wheldon is living the American dream. In triplicate. This weekend, hell have a short commute to the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg paddock. Wheldon, who drives the No. 26 Klein Tools/Jim Beam Dallara/Honda/Firestone, made the peninsula his permanent residence in January. He also has a condominium in Miami and a house in Indianapolis. The latter is on the market, but dont expect his square footage glut or gorilla mortgage payments to dramatically lower the asking price. Wheldons newest bachelor crib, with stunning views of bucolic Tampa Bay and mirrors strategically placed to satisfy periodic hair checkups, is his dream dwelling. It was a little bit more expensive than I wanted, but when I persuaded my manager that it was a good investment he let me use that extra money on getting it, Wheldon said. It has a cool little elevator and some funky stuff like that, but its just a nice place that has a lot of character to it. The house is kind of U-shaped; the whole back part looks out onto the water. Its all windows. Theres also a hot tub that flows into the swimming pool, an ample garage to protect his collection of black Acuras from the elements, and a boat dock aching to receive an aquatic version of his Andretti Green Racing car. I actually want to get two of the biggest Honda engines they have and put a boat on my dock, he said. |
| Event | Date | Tickets | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
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Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
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2:00 pm
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Indianapolis Motor Speedway
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| More Brickyard 400 News: |
| Thank you very much for joining us. We're joined today by Al Unser here on the left, Marco Andretti on the right, drivers in the Menards Infiniti Pro Series, testing on the road course and, of course, getting ready for the Menards Infiniti Pro Series Grand Prix of St. Petersburg next weekend, St. Petersburg, Florida. It will be the first non-oval event in Pro Series history, the only street course on the schedule for 2005. Today also significant, it's the first time any cars have driven on the surface here at Indianapolis Motor Speedway since the repaving over the winter; and a brand new Yard of Bricks placed in there, as well. These two come from, obviously, very historic families, quite a legacy in racing. The Andretti family, 53 starts at Indianapolis; and the Unser family, 71 starts at Indianapolis. For Marco, his first time in a Pro Series car; and for Al, he's raced with us a handful of times last year and the first two races this year. Neither of them have raced here at Indianapolis. So, gentlemen, let's start with Marco, your first time in the Pro Series car, you were the first one out on the track this morning, too. Just tell us a little bit about what it's like in the Menards Infiniti Pro Series car.
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