INDIANAPOLIS 500 / DAILY REPORT : Cars Staying on Track, Away From Wall, as Practice Speeds Continue to Increase

Something must be working right. Last year at Indianapolis, crashes were a daily ritual during practice for the 500.

Sunday, 41 drivers logged 1,802 laps (4,505 miles) without anyone tagging a wall. No one even spun.

Speeds continued to move up slowly as pole qualifying day approaches. Paul Tracy, in the Penske team’s backup ’93 Penske-Chevy, moved into the No. 1 spot with a lap of 223.931 m.p.h.

*

Speculation around the pits is that A.J. Foyt will drive in the Indianapolis 500 for the 36th consecutive year.

Jim Gilmore, who owned the cars Foyt drove for 20 years, including 1977 when he won his fourth 500, said he didn’t know which way Foyt was leaning.

“I hope he doesn’t drive again,” Gilmore said. “I’ve told him that, but he never did listen to me.” Gilmore and Foyt parted company last year.

*

Mario Andretti was beaming after watching his son, Michael, finished his first Formula One race in five tries Sunday on TV. Michael Andretti finished fifth in the Grand Prix of Spain.

“It’s a relief, in a sense, that he got a race under his belt,” Mario said. “You could tell he was only driving about 80%. That’s fine. That’s what he was supposed to do this time. Now he can settle down and go racing.”

*

Rocky Moran, who missed a chance to drive in the Indy 500 last year when he could not fit his 6-foot-3, 219-pound frame into the cockpit of one of John Menard’s 1991 Lolas, came to town early this year from his home in Cota de Caza to make sure it didn’t happen again.

“We made some changes, moved the pedals around and made room for my knees, so I can get in the car,” said Moran, who has been in three 500s. “It’s still awful tight, but I can get in and out.”