Monday, May 28, 2001
Indy 500 Notebook
Andretti has led 398 laps; never the last
By Tom Groeschen
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDIANAPOLIS — Michael Andretti entered the race having led the most Indy-career laps (382) without a victory. He led 16 more Sunday, giving him 398 for his career.
That is nearly two full 500-mile races, as each Indy race covers 200 laps on the 2.5-mile oval.
Andretti added to his “lead” Sunday when he grabbed the race lead on Lap 49. Andretti, in the race for the first time since 1995, finished third. He has led in six of his 12 Indy appearances but has yet to win. He missed the 1996-2000 races because of the CART boycott.
“It's quite disappointing,” Andretti said. “There for a while, I'm in the lead and I'm thinking maybe my luck's going to turn. ... There's a good chance I'll be back next year, for sure.”
Andretti's effort was somewhat hampered when the front wing of his car was damaged on a pit stop. He also mentioned some mistakes made on another pit stop, but said, “That's just the way it goes.”
Andretti became the eighth driver to lead an Indy 500 in three different decades. Among the others is his father, Mario.
ROOKIES, SCHMOOKIES: Indy winner Helio Castroneves technically was listed as a rookie, since he'd never driven in the 500. But Castroneves entered with four career victories on the CART circuit.
Castroneves became the second straight “rookie” to win Indy, following Juan Montoya's 2000 victory. Montoya is in Formula One.
It marks the first time rookies have won Indy in consecutive years since Frank Lockhart and George Souders in 1926 and '27, respectively.
HE'S EVERYWHERE: Kentucky Speedway chairman Jerry Carroll attended the Indy 500 as a guest of Tony George, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. George played host to owners of the other tracks that host IRL events.
Kentucky will have an IRL race Aug.12, but first is preparing for its NASCAR Busch race on June 16. Carroll said NASCAR president Mike Helton will attend the Kentucky Busch race, marking the first race Helton will see at the track.
Carroll remains hopeful of landing a Winston Cup race for 2002.
CELEBRITY WATCH: The national anthem was sung by Aerosmith rocker Steven Tyler. “Back Home Again in Indiana” was sung as usual by Jim Nabors. The pace car was driven by Elaine Irwin Mellencamp, wife of Hoosier rocker John Mellencamp.
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Indy 500 Notebook
