Late Bloomer Ray Feels Fine on Pole

Greg Ray knows he can hold his breath for 160 seconds because that’s how long it took for him to win the pole for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

Three and a half hours, which is about what it will take to run 500 miles at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, might be a bit more difficult. But the thought doesn’t faze Ray, a talkative Texan who is the reigning Indy Racing League champion.

He oozes confidence like a Tony Robbins disciple.

“What I’m doing is a gift,” he said Friday. “We are all predisposed with something. It comes very easy to me. You can’t be afraid of what life has to offer. A lot of people become bitter because they don’t get to live their dreams. I’m living mine.”

Ray, 33, is a late bloomer in racing. He did not drive a race car until he was 25, starting out in Formula 2000s around his home in Plano, Texas, where he owns and operates one of the largest boat rental and charter facilities in the country. He also co-owns the family business, Plano Marine, which is a yacht brokerage.

“Getting the pole meant a lot to me personally,” Ray said. “I feel it’s bigger than winning any other race in the world.”

Is he nervous about having to pace the 33-car field at the start of such an important race?

“No. This is what I do. It’s my office. This is what I’ve trained to do.”

Two years ago, Ray stunned the motor sports world by qualifying second in a year-old Dallara for an underfinanced team owned by Thomas Knapp. He had a four-lap average of 221.125 mph after nearly not getting a chance. The team had so little funds that Knapp almost closed up shop during practice leading to Pole Day before Texas Motor Speedway and three other sponsors stepped up to save the team.

His qualifying speed this year was 223.471 in a new Team Conseco Dallara owned by Fortune 500 businessman John Menard. When Knapp closed his shop after the 1998 season, Ray took Tony Stewart’s ride with Team Menard after Stewart moved to NASCAR Winston Cup. Knapp came along as team manager.

Ray, with strong financial backing for the first time, responded by again making the front row for the Indy 500, winning three IRL races and the series championship.

Indy qualifying has been good to him, but the race has not.

In 1997, his rookie year, Ray started 30th and finished 25th. In 1998, after qualifying second, a gearbox failed and he finished 18th.

Last year, his first with Menard, hopes were high until he made a pit stop on lap 120.

Eager to get back on the track after taking on tires and fuel, Ray pulled out just as Mark Dismore prepared to pit. The ensuing collision knocked Ray out of the race. Before that, he had led four times for 32 laps.

“Driver error, that’s all you could call it,” he said. “But that’s behind me. I look on it as a lesson learned. Now I’ve got to concentrate on getting a gulp of milk.”

Milk is the winner’s traditional drink in Victory Lane.

Starting on the pole has not meant success for Ray this year, however. He started first at Orlando, Fla., and finished 17th. He started first at Phoenix and finished 19th. At Las Vegas he did better by starting second and finishing ninth.

Now he must face not only his IRL peers but also CART champion Juan Montoya and his Target Chip Ganassi teammate, Jimmy Vasser. He says he welcomes their entry. In fact, he would like to race with them all the time.

“From a fan and media perception, it’s great for the sport. There’s a lot of great drivers, and it’s nice for the drivers to race against each other. You want to play with the best, and it’s great to have Robby [Gordon] coming over from NASCAR and Juan and Jimmy over from CART. It’s just another way of measuring yourself. I would like to see everyone in the same arena on a weekly basis.”

Winston Ray, Greg’s son, was 7 on Monday. When Greg called to wish him a happy birthday, Winston asked if he had a kitty for him, as promised. Greg said he had not had time to find one because he had been too busy qualifying his car for the Indy 500.

“Where are you going to start?” Winston asked.

“On the pole, I’m first,” Greg replied.

“That’s good. I didn’t want to be in the back of the parade again,” said the youngster, remembering that he was in the last car for the 500 Festival Parade in 1997.

Another difference between starting 30th and starting first is attention from the public.

“No one knew who I was in ‘97,” Ray recalled. “This year, on Community Day when they throw open the doors at the speedway, they wanted me to crown the queen and ESPN wanted me to do an interview, but there were like 400 people in line for my autograph. And when 400 people are waiting in line to get your autograph, you show them respect and stay.”

How about 400,000 cheering as you chug a bottle of milk?

“Wouldn’t that be great?” he said as a broad smile broke across his face. “That’s one time I wouldn’t cry over spilt milk.”

INDIANAPOLIS 500 FACTS

* When: 9 a.m. Sunday

* Television: Channel 7