Luyendyk Earns Phoenix Pole; Only 21 Cars Qualify

One of the Indy Racing League’s biggest worries--a shortage of cars for race day--became a concern Saturday when only 21 qualified for today’s DuraLube 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Former Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk ran a track record 183.599 mph to wrest the pole from rookie Richie Hearn of Canyon Country, who earlier had bettered Bryan Herta’s year-old record with a lap of 182.797. Both Luyendyk and Hearn drove Reynard-Cosworths.

Herta’s record was 181.952.

Crashes during practice Friday eliminated four cars, putting Indy 500 veterans Eddie Cheever, Buddy Lazier and Lyn St. James and rookie Stan Wattles on the sidelines. Under normal conditions, drivers jump into backup machinery, but cars and engines are in short supply because of the IRL’s break from Championship Auto Racing Teams.

St. James, whose car was demolished when Lazier spun in front of her and the two cars careened into the wall, was not injured and may start today at the rear of the field in a second Dick Simon-prepared car.

If she doesn’t start, the 21-car field will be the smallest here since 1979, when only 18 started. There were 22 in both 1991 and 1992.

Cheever was released from the hospital Saturday, but Wattles and Lazier remained. Lazier has a broken pelvis.

“The way the car ran today gives me a lot of confidence for the race,” said Luyendyk, the 1990 Indy winner who lives in nearby Scottsdale. “It was pretty windy, but the car handled perfectly.”

There is a 23-mph differential between the pole speed and Michele Alboreto’s back row car, but Luyendyk said it should not be a problem.

“I drove in the Daytona 24-hour race and there was about 60 miles difference in speed,” he said. “It’s the driver doing the passing who’s responsible to take care of business. He can’t expect slower cars to disappear or get out of the way.”