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INDIANAPOLIS (May 17, 2009)— Bump Day drama can even affect an Indy 500 veteran like John Andretti. But the Indy native shook off any nerves Sunday in last-ditch qualifying effort to make his tenth Indianapolis 500 field.
Driving his No. 43 Richard Petty Window World Honda Dallara, Andretti had not been fast enough to make the 33-driver field in his first two qualifying attempts Sunday with a best of 220.2 miles per hour with twenty minutes remaining in time trials. But a quick change by the Window World crew helped the NASCAR regular make the field in his third and final attempt.
With six minutes left in Bump Day, Andretti posted laps of 221.571, 221.393, 221.201 and 221.098 for a four-lap of 221.316 m.p.h. and claim the 28th spot in next Sunday’s starting grid. Andretti’s start will be his third consecutive at Indy after taking a 13-year hiatus to drive on the NASCAR circuit.
Andretti wasn’t the only Dreyer & Reinbold Racing driver to re-qualify, as rookie Mike Conway turned in a superb effort with an average of 221.417 m.p.h. and the 27th starting position in the No. 24 Purex DRR Honda Dallara on Sunday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, Milka Duno, in the No. 23 CITGO DRR Honda Dallara, recorded a solid 221.106 m.p.h. qualifying average to score the 31st position for Sunday’s race. This will be Duno’s third Indy 500 start.
The Sunday weather conditions were outstanding for qualifying attempts, and Conway will hoping to work on race setup after qualifying Saturday. But all three DRR drivers needed to return to the tech line and re-qualify for a spot in the field.
In the end, all four Dreyer & Reinbold Racing drivers are in the starting field for the 2009 Indy 500, set for Sunday beginning at 1. p.m. [EDT].
JOHN ANDRETTI, No. 43 Richard Petty Window World Honda Dallara: “I’m exhausted. I don’t want to do this anymore, to be honest. Just coming down pit road, you would have thought that I won the race. I couldn’t hear the crowd, but I could see them standing and waving. The fans have always been behind me at Indianapolis. The team did such a great job. We tried something different in practice today. We got advice, and it was one of those things that we couldn’t get to work. We went back (garage) and took (teammate) Mike Conway’s shocks and springs and put them on my car. It made the car really nice to drive. It was a nice run. I give all the credit to my teammates. I’m the old man, and I had to fight the hardest, and it’s not supposed to be that way. I’ve always looked at these guys on the bubble on Bump Day and absolutely felt for them. I was with Marty Roth last year and the jubilation was unbelievable. I can’t imagine how embarrassed I would have been to call Richard Petty and have him ask, “Where do you start?” And I don’t (start). It’s been a very, very tough day. I’m going to say that one is for my dad (Aldo Andretti). My dad is such a strong supporter – I know this was a challenge that he would appreciate..”