INDIANAPOLIS 500 / DAILY REPORT : Scouting the Track, Stock Car Driver Irvan Muses About an Open-Wheel Ride

Winston Cup points leader Ernie Irvan and Robert Yates, owner of the Ford Thunderbird that Irvan drives, took a look around Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday, comparing notes with Indy car drivers.

“I don’t know if I’d ever want to come try the Indianapolis 500, but I guess if I did, I’d have to be at a certain part of my career where Winston Cup wasn’t as important,” Irvan said after watching Nigel Mansell run a lap at 223.5 m.p.h. “There’s no doubt that someday I’d really like to try to drive an Indy car, but I don’t know if Indy’s the place I’d like to start.”

Irvan and Yates took a close look at Gasoline Alley, where their cars will be garaged for the Brickyard 400 stock car race on Aug. 6.

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Mario Illien, designer of the Ilmor Mercedes push-rod engine used in Al Unser Jr.’s pole-sitting car and two other Roger Penske cars, has been named recipient of the Louis Schwitzer Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers for “excellence and innovation in race car design and development.”

The SAE recognized Illien for “going against the grain” in producing a push-rod engine, and for bringing it to reality in only 26 weeks.

Illien also won the award in 1986 for his design of the Ilmor Chevrolet engine.

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Geoff Brabham, trying for his 11th start in the Indy 500, got his latest start ever, appearing on the track for the first time with only four laps Wednesday. He was back for a full day Thursday, getting in 53 laps with his 1993 Lola-Menard, including one at 221.391 m.p.h., which would easily put him in the field.

It’s the same car he drove last year when he started 29th and finished 26th.

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Roberto Moreno, moved into a 1994 Lola-Ford on Tuesday when Al Unser Sr. announced his retirement, moved out again on Thursday when he could get the car no faster than 200 m.p.h.

Tero Palmroth, a four-time Indy starter from Finland, stepped into the car and got it up to 216.836 in 39 laps.

Among other drivers who have yet to qualify, John Paul Jr. turned 222.058 m.p.h. in one car and 218.452 in his backup car.