OPENING DAY
93rd Indianapolis 500
NOTES - Wednesday, May 6, 2009

RAIN CANCELLED PRACTICE FOR OPENING DAY AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

OVERALL: With the final scheduled ROP session cut short due to rain that began around 9:30 AM EDT today and continued throughout the day, Thursday's schedule has been expanded to begin at 9:30 a.m. instead of noon. The track will open for all cars at 10:30 a.m. instead of 12 noon.

Graham Rahal, No 02 McDonald’s Dallara Honda/Firestone: “It’s a bummer that we don’t get to run today because we don’t get much practice anyway before Pole Day. It’s a shame and more so because it’s no fun to sit here doing nothing all day. You get up early, excited to go and you get all anxious just to get shot down. I think the car was pretty good for Robert (Doornbos) yesterday so hopefully when we finally get to go out on track, the McDonald’s car should be good from the start. I’m looking forward to going out in my brand new McDonald’s car. Basically it’s an absolutely brand new car that has been at the shop since last fall and all winter the team has been working on it. They have spent a lot of hours working on the body fit to make it as fast and smooth as they could. By the looks of it I think they did a pretty good job because the thing looks fast for sure. I’ve been looking forward to driving this new McDonald’s car for so long and to have to wait another day because of rain is a bummer!”

FAST FACTS: Will be his second race here. In 2008, he was the highest Indy 500 starter of the Champ Car transitioning teams with his 13th place start but made contact on L36 after driving high to avoid the slower car of Lloyd. Retired in 33rd place…Earned two of the three poles so far this season, the first of which earned him the distinction of being the youngest pole sitter in series history after winning pole in St. Pete on 4-4-09 at 20 years, 90 days old…Is ranked eighth in series points with 72.

Robert Doornbos, No. 06 Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone: “I’m actually not too disappointed about the weather today because I had a good run yesterday and there are some practice days left. The team has done a good job to make sure the car is in good shape for when the weather improves. I spent the day making my seat more comfortable, did some interviews and went to the gym here at the track to make sure I keep my fitness level up so the day passed by quick.”

FAST FACTS: Will be his first Indy 500 and third time to drive on this track after running here in the 2005 (Jordan GP test/Friday driver) and 2006 (Red Bull Racing) Formula One events….The Indy 500 will be his second-ever start on an oval. Qualified second in his oval debut in Kansas…Has competed against fellow ICS drivers Marco Andretti (A1GP), Danica Patrick (Formula Ford), Ryan Briscoe (F3) and E.J. Viso (F3000)…Two-time Indy 500 winner and fellow Dutchman Arie Luyendyk is serving as an advisor to Doornbos. Luyendyk won the 500 in 1990 and 1997 and is the only driver from the Netherlands to win the Indy 500 to date…Leads the Rookie of the Year standings.

1 POLE (1987) & TWO SECONDS AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY (IMS) FOR NHR/NHLR: The 2009 entry will mark the 17th year for NHR/NHLR in the event and the fourth since 1995. Prior to 2009, the team prepared a total of 25 entries for drivers such as Mario and Michael Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Paul Tracy, Bruno Junqueira, Sebastien Bourdais, Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal. Rahal and Robert Doornbos compete for the team in 2009 and will bring the total to 27. NHR’s highest finish in the Indy 500 is second place with Mario Andretti in 1985 and Michael Andretti in 1991 although team drivers have led many laps here. Mario Andretti also brought the team its highest start in the event when he won the pole position in 1987. NHR’s 2004 entry of Junqueira marked the first time for the team to compete here since 1995 and they returned in 2005 with Junqueira and IMS rookie Bourdais. In 2008 they ran Wilson and Rahal here during a transition season in the series but both made contact and retired in 27th and 33rd respectively. They have earned Rookie of the Year once, with Mansell in 1993 when he finished third.