1996 Indianapolis 500 Daily Trackside Report Notes

The Championship Auto Racing Auxiliary's annual CARA Tennis Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22 at IUPUI's downtown campus. Check in is at 11 a.m., play begins at 12:30 p.m. and the awards presentation is set for 3 p.m.

A media bus will operate from the Speedway on Saturday, May 25 to the Delco Electronics 500 Festival Parade. The bus departs immediately after the drivers meeting from the south end of pit road and returns to the Speedway at 2 p.m. For further information, call Ray Begovich or Karen Yakovac at The Indianapolis Project, 639-4773.

USAC sprints and I-Car Team Jasper modifieds are on the card Thursday, May 23 at Winchester Speedway. NASCAR late models, super stocks and four-cylinder stocks will run a program at Winchester Monday, May 27.

Coors and Coors Light have scheduled an autograph session with Indy Racing League drivers for 7:30-10 p.m. Tuesday at J.A. Flats on the America Live! fourth floor of Circle Centre Mall.

Officials from Wildlife Rescue and Control came to the track early Friday at the Speedway's request to effect humanitarian removal of the family of ducks that has persistently waddled from the creek inside Turn 1 onto the race track this month. The ducks now have a new home in a quieter environment.

At 9:35 a.m., Dan Drinan in the #36 State Bail Bonding/Kelly's Pub Too entry went low in Turn 1, did a half spin over 450 feet to hit the wall with the left side in the south short chute, slid along the wall 75 feet, then came off the wall 650 feet with one complete spin to stop in the warmup lane at the entrance to Turn 2. The car sustained extensive damage. Drinan was transported by ambulance to Methodist Hospital, accompanied by Dr. Mike Olinger of the Speedway medical staff. At 10 a.m., Drinan was reported to be awake and in stable condition, according to Dr. Henry Bock, Speedway medical director.

Practice ended at 10:15 a.m. Billy Boat was fastest of practice in the #99 Pagan Racing entry at 224.165 miles per hour. Others: #10 Brad Murphey, 222.750; #34 Fermin Velez, 220.167; #75 Johnny O'Connell, 213.543; #36 Dan Drinan, 209.908; #46 Rob Wilson 203.417; #16 Johnny Parsons, 178.264.

11:04 a.m. #99 BILLY BOAT/Phoenix, AZ
               Pagan Racing	94 R/F/G
QA - 33   1 -- 40.797 -- 220.604    Q - 29
          2 -- 40.517 -- 222.129
          3 -- 40.523 -- 222.096
          4 -- 40.454 -- 222.475
           T 2:42.291 -- 221.824

11:10 a.m. #34 FERMIN VELEZ/Barcelona, Spain
               Cristal/Copec Mobil - 95 L/F/G
QA - 34   1 -- 40.743 -- 220.897    Q - 30
          2 -- 40.426 -- 222.629
          3 -- 40.350 -- 223.048
          4 -- 40.288 -- 223.392
           T 2:41.807 -- 222.487

11:16 a.m. #10 BRAD MURPHEY/Tucson, AZ
               HEMELGARN Racing    94 R/F/F
               (2nd attempt)
QA - 35   1 -- 39.746 -- 226.438    Q - 31
          2 -- 40.011 -- 224.938
          3 -- 39.786 -- 226.210
          4 -- 39.712 -- 226.632
           T 2:39.255 -- 226.053

11:30 a.m. update: Dan Drinan suffered a concussion, was awake and alert in stable condition and also had a left hip fracture, according to Dr. Henry Bock, Speedway medical director. He has been admitted to Methodist Hospital for treatment and further evaluation and examination.

At 11:30 a.m., Danny Ongais was officially assigned to the Brickell Racing Group entry, the #77 Brickell Racing/Earl's Performance/PDM Indy car.

12:11 p.m. #16 JOHNNY PARSONS/Indianapolis, IN
               Team Blueprint Racing Inc. - 93 L/M/F

QA - 36    1 -- 40.295 -- 223.353    Q - 32
           2 -- 40.069 -- 224.613    Locked In
           3 -- 40.157 -- 224.120
           4 -- 40.306 -- 223.292
            T 2:40.827 -- 223.843

1:15 update: Dan Drinan has also been found to have a bruised left lung and a fracture of the left foot.

A memorial service for Scott Brayton will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Victory Circle area of the Tower Terrace. Credentialed members of the racing community who wish to attend may gather on pit lane.

The Championship Drivers Association and Team Menard Inc. Announced the formation of a scholarship fund for Carly Brayton, daughter of Scott and Becky Brayton. Checks should be made out to Carly Brayton Scholarship Fund and sent to: Linda Paul, Director of Public Relations, Banc One, 14801 U.S. 31 North, Carmel, IN 46032 or to the Championship Drivers Association, 3905 Vincennes Road, Suite 303, Indianapolis, IN 46268. For further information, contact Jon Potter, Championship Drivers Association, (317) 471-3530 or (317) 244-7906, or Ted Quackenbush, Team Menard, at (317) 241-3431.

Roland Free and Cy Marshall hold the Indianapolis 500 record for most years between starts at 17. Both started in 1930 and didn't start again until 1947. Three drivers have 10 years between starts: Raoul Riganti (1923 to 1933), Kenneth Fowler (1937 to 1947) and Johnny Parsons (1986 to 1996). Danny Ongais, who has been assigned to a ride, would also have 10 years between "500" starts -- 1986 to 1996 -- if he makes the field.

Championship Auto Racing Auxiliary (CARA) will hold its 15th annual "500" Fashion Show and Luncheon Friday, May 24 at the Westin Hotel. The luncheon is scheduled for Noon and fashion show at 1 p.m. Karla Boschen-Reid, the 1996 chairperson, said the theme for the show would be "Voices in Racing". Tom Carnegie is honorary chairperson and MCs will include Bob Jenkins, Chris Economaki, Dave Calabro, Gary Lee and Derek Daly. Since its inception in 1981, CARA has donated more than $650,000 to numerous racing and child-related causes and charities. Tickets are $45 each with an additional $15 for the Patron Party at 11 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency and may be purchased by contacting the CARA office at (317) 299-2277.

At 2:30 p.m., the temperature was 86 degrees with winds out of the west at 12 miles per hour and gusts to 17 mph.

At 3:20 p.m. Danny Ongais passed his 20-lap refresher course.

Tony Stewart took the track today in the #32 Glidden Menards Special which Scott Brayton qualified for the pole, renumbered #2.

5:59 p.m.  #75 JOHNNY O'CONNELL/Chandler, AZ
               Mechanics Laundry/Cunningham Racing - 95 R/F/F

QA - 37    1 -- 40.382 -- 222.872    Q - 33
           2 -- 40.591 -- 221.724    Locked In
           3 -- 40.546 -- 221.970
           4 -- 40.380 -- 222.883
            T 2:41.899 -- 222.361

The 31-car field average is 227.991 mph.

20 cars were on the track today, running 585 laps. Cars on track today: #2 Stewart; #4 Hearn; #10 Murphey; #11 Sharp; #12 Calkins; #14 Hamilton; #16 Parsons; #20 Stewart; #24 Tolsma; #34 Velez; #35 Luyendyk; #36 Drinan; #41 Greco; #43 Gosek; #46 Wilson; #64 Unser; #72 Jones; #75 O'Connell; #77 Ongais; #99 Boat.

A total of 49 cars are now at the Speedway, 46 have passed technical inspection and one is in the process. 38 drivers have been on the track to date. There were 13 yellows for two hours, one minute. At 6:10 p.m., the temperature was 85 degrees and winds are SW at 10 mph. Track temperatures from Goodyear tire engineers were 99 degrees at 9 a.m., 128 degrees at Noon, 140 degrees at 2 p.m., 131 degrees at 4 p.m. and 106 degrees at 6 p.m.

Qualifying order for Sunday: #43 Gosek, #77 Ongais, #46 Wilson, #24 Tolsma.