INDIANAPOLIS 500 DAILY REPORT : Andrettis Are Fast in Final Practice

Carburetion Day, the last day of practice for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500, went off without a hitch Thursday.

All 33 qualified cars, plus one driven by first alternate Mike Groff of Van Nuys, were on the track, some drivers still looking for missing speed, others fine-tuning their race-day setups.

The four Ford-powered Lolas were the fastest of the session, Mario Andretti turning the top speed, 226.409 m.p.h. Arie Luyendyk was next at 225.423, followed by Michael Andretti at 225.220 and Eddie Cheever at 224.921.

Pole-sitter Roberto Guerrero drove his Buick-powered Lola at 224.899, and Bobby Rahal had the fastest Chevy-powered car at 223.842.

Emerson Fittipaldi said that Brazilian countryman Nelson Piquet, seriously injured in a crash during practice at Indianapolis earlier this month, is doing well, despite numerous operations and skin grafts on his shattered feet.

“I spent a long time with him (Wednesday) night,” Fittipaldi said. “He was much more enthusiastic. I think he’s fully recovered mentally, although he’s going to be a long time recovering physically. Lots of therapy work.

“He’s a little disappointed that it happened even before he raced here. I made a bet that he’s going to be back in a racing car.”

Defending champion Rick Mears, also injured in a crash during practice, took last weekend off to heal.

“I found out what being a real couch potato is like,” he said.

“I tried to spend a little time in the Jacuzzi and the pool, swimming, trying to get a little exercise, work some of the soreness out and basically stayed on the couch with my feet propped up.”

Bobby Rahal’s team, headed by crew chief Jim Prescott, won the 16th annual Miller pit-stop contest, which requires four tire changes and a simulated fuel stop, in 13.324 seconds. Rahal’s team beat Eddie Cheever’s in the final round, winning $25,000.

Coincidentally, the winning team is sponsored by Miller.