Looking for a Clutch Performance

A Japanese influence is permeating the Indianapolis 500, with Honda and Toyota furnishing two-thirds of the engines for Sunday’s race and all 33 cars running on Japanese-owned tires. So will this be the year a Japanese driver wins the race?

Kosuke Matsuura, a happy-go-lucky rookie with a sense of humor that has endeared him to the racing inner circle, has not only been the fastest of eight rookies in the 500, but he has been at or near the top of the speed charts every day.

Only Tony Kanaan has had a faster lap than Matsuura’s 222.990 mph since the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened May 9. Driving a Honda-powered G Force, he qualified on the outside of the third row, No. 9 starting position, with a four-lap average of 220.740, by far the swiftest of the rookies.

“I’m very comfortable,” he said. “My car is very fast every day.”

Asked to compare himself with other Japanese drivers, he grinned and said, “It is hard to compare to Japanese drivers, because to compare to them, I have to be in Japan. And I am here.” Of himself, he told a reporter, “I’m normal. I’m like a Brazilian.”

The Brazilians, of course, are the madcaps of American Indy-car racing.

Matsuura, 24, came here after driving in the Formula Renault V6 Eurocup championship series, where he finished third after victories at Donington Park, Oschersleben and Estoril. He also has driven two years in German Formula 3 after leaving Japan, where he began his career in karts at 14.

Although his speed has been stunning all month, Matsuura’s race record has not been so impressive. He finished 11th in the Indy Racing League opener at Homestead-Miami, 11th again in Phoenix and eighth at Motegi, Japan.

Matsuura heads an unusual array of first-year 500 drivers.

Two are offspring of former winners who have driven more in NASCAR than IRL cars: Larry Foyt, son of A. J., and P.J. Jones, son of Parnelli. Neither was expected to be here, but when NASCAR commitments slowed, both jumped at the chance.

“It surprised me when my father called and said to give it a try,” Foyt said. “It’s great how things worked out. On the NASCAR side, with us not having a sponsor, it freed up my schedule.

“My father has known how badly I’ve wanted to do it. When he kind of pushed me over to the stock car side, I kind of reluctantly went with it, and I’m glad I did. But this has always been my dream, so I’m lucky to have this opportunity.”

Another Foyt, A.J. IV, is also in the 500, but A.J.’s grandson made his debut last year.

Jones, 35, is here because of behind-the-scenes work of old friends Mike Curb, Greg Beck and the Agajanian family. Beck had a car with no driver or sponsor. Curb brought sponsorship money, and the Agajanians brought Jones, just as their father had brought Parnelli here more than 40 years ago.

Another rookie with a famous father is Ed Carpenter, the stepson of Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Tony George. He is driving for Eddie Cheever, another former Indy winner, after driving in the Infiniti Pro Series last year for Foyt, with whom he won the inaugural Freedom 100 at Indianapolis.

“I’ve known Eddie for a long time, ever since I was a kid, and he’s been great to work with,” said Carpenter, 23.

“You’ve got to remember I worked for A.J. last year, so this year is definitely going to be easier than that was. We’re here to win the 500, and Eddie has done that, and I learn something from him every day.”

Rookie Marty Roth, 45, is the oldest and slowest driver in the race. His qualifying time of 211.631 mph is more than 10 mph slower than pole-sitter Buddy Rice’s 222.024. Roth’s first 500 will also be his first IRL race. He competed in the Infiniti Pro Series last year and Indy Lights more than 10 years ago.

In Saturday’s Freedom 100, the Canadian driver finished 16th.

“It’s been a huge learning curve as a driver, and a team owner and just about everything,” Roth said. “I would say that what I learned [in the Freedom 100] is that when the green flag drops and it’s a pack going into the first corner, I have to be patient and keep my nose clean. When we get to running single file, I will be more comfortable.”

Another Infiniti series product, Jeff Simmons, didn’t even have a ride, or even consider one, before the Freedom 100. Car owner Mo Nunn was so impressed with Simmons’ second-place finish that he offered him a seat in his Toyota-powered Dallara.

“My getting this ride shows that the guys in the IRL do watch the Pro Series races, and are looking for new talent,” said Simmons, 28, a graduate of Boston College.

The other two rookies are Darren Manning and Mark Taylor, both from England and driving full time in the IRL series. Manning came over from CART, where he drove for Walker Racing, to join Chip Ganassi’s powerful Toyota team. Taylor moved up from winning the Infiniti Pro Series in his rookie year to become IRL champion Sam Hornish Jr.’s replacement with Panther Racing.