SATURDAY’S (5/12/07) SCHEDULE (all times local EST):
7 a.m.. Public Gates Open
8:59 a.m. Honorary starter: Billie Jean King, former professional tennis champion
9-11 a.m. Indianapolis 500 practice
Noon-6 p.m. AAMCO Transmissions Pole Qualifications
6 p.m. AAMCO Transmissions Pole Award Winner Ceremony (Yard of Bricks)
6 p.m. Track closes
Note: No rain expected today. This is the first time rain has NOT been forecasted on pole day since 2001.
Buddy Rice drew the number one qualifying position last evening. Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe should be the next qualifiers if Rice decides to go out first.
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Here?s a look at each of the four days of qualifying in 2007. Qualifying speeds will continue to be determined by the overall time and average speed for four laps around the historic 2.5-mile oval:
? Each car, primary or backup, will have three attempts per day to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. If a car is bumped on any day of qualifications, that entrant can re-enter the qualification line and attempt to re-qualify based on the number of attempts remaining for that car.
? Entrants also can still withdraw qualified cars from the field at their choice, but that car still will be allowed to make qualifying attempts based on the number of attempts it has remaining for the day. The car does not have to be removed from competition, as in previous formats.
POLE DAY – Saturday, May 12:
Positions one through 11 in the 33-car field are available to the fastest 11 qualifiers that day. Once the 11 spots are full, bumping will occur for the rest of the day to determine the pole and the fastest 11 qualifiers for that day.
SECOND DAY QUALIFYING – Sunday, May 13:
Positions 12 through 22 are available. Once those spots are full, bumping will occur only in spots 12 through 22 for the rest of the day to determine the fastest 11 qualifiers for that day.
THIRD DAY QUALIFYING – Saturday, May 19:
Positions 23 through 33 are available. Once those spots are full, bumping will occur only in spots 23-33 for the rest of the day to determine the fastest 11 qualifiers for that day.
BUMP DAY – Sunday, May 20: Any qualifying attempt on the fourth day that is faster than a qualified entrant in the 33 positions in the starting field will bump the slowest qualifier from the field, regardless of the day of qualification. The ?bumped? entrant will be removed from the field of 33, and the remaining field will move ahead one position in the starting field as the newly qualified entrant will take the 33rd position, or a higher position if faster than the other fourth day qualifiers.
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Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.
IndyCar SeriesSteve Zautke