Rules May Remain the Same, but Cars Picking Up Speed

No one is expected ever to better Arie Luyendyk’s record of 237.498 mph for a lap around Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but that’s probably what they said as far back as 1919, when Rene Thomas passed the magic 100-mph milestone in his Ballot.

One thing is certain: Luyendyk’s record is safe this year. And probably for as long as the Indy Racing League runs production-based non-turbocharged V-8 engines in the Indianapolis 500. Luyendyk also holds the one-lap record for that breed of power plant, 218.659, set last year.

When he ran the 237 in 1996, his car was powered by a turbocharged eight-cylinder Ford Cosworth engine, the same type still being used in CART champ cars. They put out about 200 horsepower more than the IRL regulations permit.

Evolution being what it is, however, Indy car speeds are going up this year, even though the rules are the same as last year’s.

“Last year we had only three engines that had ever run 500 miles, so there weren’t many cars on the track during practice,” said Leo Mehl, IRL executive director. “No one wanted to run because they were afraid if something went wrong, there weren’t any spare engines for the 500.

“We set a 10,500-rev [revolutions per minute] limit. Last year, teams were more worried about durability, so they were getting only about 10.2 to 10.3. This year, many of them are able to run clear to 10.5. I would estimate that most of the engine builders have found about 40 more horsepower. We have eight different builders, all competing with one another, so it gives teams a lot of flexibility.

“And last year, we had only 58 cars built. This year we have 88, split about even between Dallara and G Force, with six or seven from Riley & Scott. Because of this, the teams have tested more, giving engineers more information to refine their cars.

“One big plus for the smaller teams is that they can use last year’s car with a $35,000 update kit and keep racing. In the past, cars became obsolete after one year. That’s one thing the IRL has fought against. We want to keep rules stable enough that cars don’t have to be thrown away.”

In two days of practice, speeds have escalated about five mph since last year. Practice times aren’t the same as “on the clock” qualifying times, but Tony Stewart’s 223.703-mph lap Monday is indicative of what may happen when time trials start Saturday.

“We were kind of surprised we ran that quick,” Stewart said. “You never leave the garage thinking about any specific speed. You just go out and take the existing circumstances and do the best you can. It’ll be the same way Saturday.”

Luyendyk, whose best lap this week has been 219.207, said the most important factor in the equation could be the weather.

“You can’t predict anything until you know what the weather’s going to be like,” warned the defending 500 champion, who qualified last year in 60 degrees and a brisk wind. “If it’s like it is today, we could see a 223. But don’t forget, qualifying is four laps and all these hot speeds are only one lap.”

Motor Racing Notes

Danny Ongais’ hopes of driving in the 500 at 56 hit the wall when his Team Pelfrey Dallara spun while coming out of the third turn, sending the rear end of the car smashing into the outside retaining wall. Ongais, briefly knocked unconscious, was taken to Methodist Hospital, where Henry Bock, Speedway medical director, said he would be kept overnight for evaluation. His condition was listed as good.

Jack Hewitt, another old-timer who hopes to be a rookie qualifier at 47, expects to be back on the track today after his PDM Racing crew repaired the G Force he crashed Sunday.

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INDY 500 FACTS

Saturday: Pole day qualifying, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (Ch. 7, 10-11 a.m.; ESPN, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; ESPN 2, 2:30-4 p.m.)

May 17: Bubble day qualifying, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Ch 7, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; ESPN2, noon-2 p.m.; ESPN 2-3 p.m.)

May 21: Carburetion day, final practice, 8-10 a.m.

May 24: 82nd Indianapolis 500, 8 a.m. (Ch. 7)