Ferguson Still Hopeful of Qualifying at Indy

Dick Ferguson of Glendale is still confident of making the field for the Indianapolis 500 despite engine problems that prevented him from qualifying last weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

When Ferguson arrived in Indianapolis earlier this month, he accepted an offer from a local racing car firm to use a March 87C car for qualifying and save his own March 86C for the race. He installed one of his Cosworth Ford engines in the March 87C and took it on the track for two days of testing, but fuel-related problems damaged the engine and forced him to the sidelines.

“We’re up against the clock now, but we should be OK,” Ferguson said by phone from Indianapolis.

There are seven positions open for the Memorial Day race--26 cars have qualified--and Ferguson feels that he can get the March 86C “up to speed” in this weekend’s final qualifying sessions.

“The qualifying speeds are low,” he said. “Everybody feels that 212 should be enough” to qualify.