INDIANAPOLIS--Buddy Rice qualified for the 16th starting position for the
91st Indianapolis 500 in the A1 TEAM USA/A1GP Dreyer & Reinbold Racing entry
Sunday.
Rice had a four-lap average of 222.826 mph in the Honda-powered Dallara on
the second day of qualifications. The 2004 Indy 500 winner will line up on the
inside of the sixth row. Rice's laps were 222.801, 222.881, 222.768 and 222.826.
"We would have liked to have been a Pole Day qualifier and been in the top
11, but the middle of the field is OK," A1 TEAM USA owner Rick Weidinger said.
"We had some problems at the end of the week that didn't allow us to fully
prepare a qualifying setup. We spent the opening four days of practice focusing on
preparing for the race and we're well on the way to having a car that can
compete for the win on May 27."
Rice will be driving in his fourth Indy 500.
"I'm happy to be in the A1 TEAM USA car," Rice said. "We're doing good and
I'm really happy with how everything is going. I think I have a real competitive
race car right now. We haven't really been working on qualifying this week.
We concentrated on the race day car. I've been around here enough to know that
we need a good car in traffic. We will work on traffic this coming week."
The track is closed to competition Monday and Tuesday. Three full days of
practice begin on Wedneday. The final two qualifying days are Saturday and Sunday
and, when no cars are presented for qualifying, the track is open for
practice.
"We will get back to our game plan and wear some tires out and run some miles
and get ready," Rice said.