Al Unser Jr. prepares to practice for the 88th "Indianapolis 500" on May 10, 2004 (Bob Jennings photo)

Hello again.

It's been a long time ago that I composed anything fresh for this website. So much has taken place in the time since I last posted new content. There are reasons, both simple and complex, why I have neglected my "Internet sweetheart" insensitively over the past three plus months.

It took most of my spare hours to try to learn ASP.Net programming via an Internet course offered by Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). I loved it and put immense effort into the class. My final grade of B- was a disappointing way to end sixteen weeks of difficult work from January through May. But I still learned some fascinating tools which I can hardly wait to put to use professionally. I only hope my employers will provide that opportunity eventually.

More disappointing is the state of my personal life. I often feel the blues from the breakup of my marriage. I have been sad for a long time, filled with despair and loneliness. My favorite moments are those when I sleep and I spend more than my share of hours in slumber, hiding from the world.

I spend time and money at Jimmy B's, with a small glass of Wild Turkey 101 and a green bottle of Heinekens in front of me. It empties my wallet but also eases my burden for a few moments. I look at the more attractive females who come into the center of social life in "sweet home Home Place" and remember the days when I could turn a female head or two. Sadly those days are over now. I still desire the mystery and excitement of a woman however, even with my 58th birthday coming in a few weeks.

Jimmy B's was a shelter from loneliness as I watched an old time frigid January pass into a dreary February, an ambiguous March and then into the cruelest month of all, April, when one day brings the promise of summer and the next day brings the reminder old man winter is still hanging around the fringes of life.

Then it became May and "Indianapolis 500" time again. I had a new Nikon N80 camera, a new Samsung video camera, a new month to spend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, new images to capture and new memories to collect. But my head isn't occupied with updates to Bob Jennings' World O' Racing. Instead my brain is a combat zone where sadness and anxiety battle with the activities at 16th Street and Georgetown Road on a daily basis. 

To add to the somber mood that surrounds me was the vicious video beheading of Nicholas Berg a couple weeks ago in Iraq by a group of international "low life" terrorists, who commit their insanity in the name of Allah; Islamic Jehaad my ass!

I actually saw the Berg video in its entirety and it was the most grisly vision I will ever have. I felt sickened and nauseous as I heard Berg scream when he realized what was going to happen before the assassin's blade sliced into his neck. I was horrified when those barbaric Al Qaeda pigs held up Berg's bloody, detached head for the camcorder, with the American's eyes still wide open. For days after, I wished I didn't watch the video on the Internet.

There are billions on this planet, fine people, who practice Islam and live their lives in the same sincere struggle for meaning that most of us do. The tens of thousands, led symbolically by Osama Bin Laden, the biggest piece of shit in this world since Adolph Hitler, threaten civilization and tarnish the good name of the religion they claim to represent.  

I am offended by Vice President Richard Cheney (Halliburton, the secret government energy meetings, etc.). I perceive Cheney to be as much a parasite as Bill Clinton and like the former president and his socialist "old lady" Hillary, I think the current vice president is dishonest and immoral.

I also dislike many of the elitist policies favored by the Republicans in the Bush administration and in both houses of Congress.

What in the hell is wrong with a party that votes against the extension of unemployment benefits for those unfortunate people who have lost their jobs? I am ashamed of the Republicans in Congress over that.

However John Kerry comes off like a cartoon figure, very uncertain in his convictions, with a talent to marry rich women (and little else). The Massachusetts senator isn't someone I place confidence in!

I don't think Kerry would pursue the fight with Bin Laden's legion of thugs that needs to be waged. I worry that Kerry would place the U.S. foreign policy in the hands of the United Nations (Iraq oil for food; how about it Jacques Chirac, Putin, Helmut Kohl, Kofi Anaan?) and that would be a tragic mistake.

So I favor the election of George W. Bush, although my support comes with reservation. At least Bush will dedicate his efforts to defeat the enemy that confronts us, even if I feel the President is mostly out of touch with little guys like me. 

We are in an intense struggle with some dangerous, intelligent predators. Damn right we needed to go into Iraq. It's time we look at this challenge for what it really is and it's as big as any threat we have faced before.

Iran probably needs to be next and I don't believe John Kerry has the stomach for this fight!

I have been in a funk. One of my symptoms has been writer's block! But it's now Sunday May 30 and the "Indianapolis 500" is set to run today for the 88th time.

The weather forecast today calls for rain, although there are vague mutterings by local meteorologists that IMS might be able to squeeze the "500" in, between the rain drops and thunderstorms. Yeah right! That sounds like the stuff we used to hear from the local chamber of commerce back in the mid seventies before we had the Weather Channel and instant data from the weather services on the Internet, and only the 1974 race went the complete 500 mile distance during the period from 1973 through 1976.

I was on hand for the rainy early seventies at the Speedway and that deal was a real drag, believe me.

I can still remember how pissed I was at the late Tom Binford with his on again off again restart after 102 laps for the 1976 "500." I saw Binford climb down from his perch above the finish line, on the flag stand, at the starting line, after the official announcement was made and Johnny Rutherford walked into Victory Lane with the winning orange Hy-Gain McLaren - Offy for his second "Indy" victory. I was screaming so loud at the "500" chief steward, that my fiancé (we never married) Susan Harmon and my old pal Dave Willmuth were embarrassed.

It took a lot to embarrass Dave Willmuth.

By the way, if you are still alive Dave Willmuth (a.k.a. Jon Norman Howard), how about contacting your old boyhood pal? I would love to see you again. In case you haven't noticed, your memory is sprinkled here and there on this website. We shared so many "Indy 500" moments, it would be a good thing to talk again.

Rain today or not, my photo bag is packed to the brim. I ponder the competition and possible story lines surrounding the 88th running of the "greatest spectacle in racing."

I made six trips to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the month. I went to practice sessions on May 9, May 10, May 11 and May 12; Pole day on May 15 and "Carb day" last Thursday May 27.  I probably took a record number of pre-race photos this month. I know the images well. I believe I am well advised about who looks strong and who doesn't in the contest for "Indy" honors.    

I am full of anticipation for my 49th personal trip to the "Indianapolis 500," despite the anti-climax and nervous frustration that is likely to occur today thanks to "Ma Nature's" predicted recalcitrance.

Regardless of the wide spread negativity diluting the old time "Indy" buzz, I remain unconditionally in love with this race. It is the center of my universe. Otherwise I would not be sitting at this computer trying to express the emotions and expectations which flood my mind.

Although no one was hurt in crashes during practice and qualifications the past three weeks at the old 2.5 mile oval, it's been another of those pessimistic chapters in the "500" history book which have become the custom the past several Mays in Indianapolis.

The crowds for practice and qualification days were sparse (to say the least), making it seem like people don't care nearly as much about the "greatest spectacle in racing" as they used to. The big drop off in crowd numbers has become a trend in the 21st century while uncertain, frightening economic times prevail. Even during those first three or four Indy Racing League seasons, more people came to the Speedway in May for practice and qualifications - and to the race itself for that matter.

From 1996 through 2000, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway sold all tickets for the coming year's "Indianapolis 500" by the end of June, nearly eleven months ahead of each event. The 86th "Indy 500," scheduled for May 26, 2002, sold out in September 2001.

Last May, IMS was still offering tickets for the 87th "500" on race day. The previous time the "500" failed to sell out prior to May occurred in 1981.    

Tickets went unsold for the 87th "500." That made a deep impression on me!

As things turned out, most of the 257,000 plus seats (as counted and reported by Curt Cavin in The Indianapolis Star a few days ago) were sold. Robin Miller wrote in the ESPN motor sports website that seats at the Speedway were nearly full (with the exception of about 12,000), as Gil de Ferran  denied Helio Castroneves an unprecedented third consecutive "500" victory, for a one - two finish by Marlboro Team Penske. I would call Miller's assessment reasonably accurate. That has to be a first!

The May 27 crowd (estimated at 40,000) for "Carburetion" day was bigger than expected, perhaps the largest assemblage for "500" pre-race activity in four years. However given the aggressive way the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has marketed race tickets since "500" practice opened on May 9, it makes me wonder how many people will be at the race today.

I have concerns the empty seats will be even more numerous than for last year's race. Hopefully there won't be many visibly open gaps throughout the grandstands around the 2.5 mile layout. That would be an embarrassment and the media would jump on the story like flies on dog shit. Robin Miller would have a big day over that to be sure.

Perhaps a rain out today would be a hidden blessing and masquerade a sizable drop in the crowd at the Speedway. 

Don't mind me. I'm negative about everything at the moment.

I have some of that same trepidation I had before I got inside the Speedway for the 1996 "Indianapolis 500," which opened the Indy Racing League era at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Fortunately people still came to the Speedway in huge numbers that day and the grandstands looked mostly full, even though CART was staging the ill fated "U.S. 500" at Michigan International Speedway, with most of the "stars and cars of Indy car racing" running 250 miles to the north at the same time. What a bunch of idiots those CART ego-maniacs were!

Take a bow Andrew Craig and all you "CART-isans" who supported him.

For the second consecutive May, there were concerns throughout the month we would not have a full field of 33 cars to take the green flag. Fortunately the field is full. However for the second year in a row, it took cooperation from the established teams and eleventh hour maneuvering to qualify 33 cars.

In the final analysis however, this is still the "Indianapolis 500." Even those among us who love the big race as much as ever admit the wonderful Memorial Day weekend classic ain't quite what she used to be in terms of universal popularity. But we love the "old girl" anyway - more than ever!

Last Sunday, during "bump day," Tony Stewart showed up at the Speedway and flirted with a last minute run to bump into the "500" field at the expense of Robby McGehee and the crew at PDM Racing.

That was probably the biggest story of the nine days of practice and three days of qualifications for the 88th "500." It caught my attention like nothing else. I desperately want Tony Stewart to race in the "500" again and win. A run in one of A.J. Foyt's Conseco Dallara - Toyotas would not have brought Stewart's the best chance, but it was still cool that Tony let the story go as far as it did.

Unfortunately Cary Agajanian, who manages the "Rushville Rocket's" racing career, was also at the Speedway and the California attorney brought an end to the fun when he reminded his client Stewart that he races for Chevrolet and the "bowtie brigade" wouldn't like their guy running a Toyota powered Foyt Conseco Dallara at a showcase like "Indy."

The best thing about the story is that Tony Stewart said he had the "fever" again and he announced he hoped to put together a program for the "500" next May. Whether that actually takes place remains to be seen, but it still gives me something to look forward to.

starting grid - 88th "Indianapolis 500"  

The first thing that stands out, when I look at the grid for the 88th "Indianapolis 500," is the lack of experience among the 33 drivers in this year's race.

Al Unser Jr. leads all drivers with sixteen previous starts in the race. Next comes Buddy Lazier, who has raced in the "500" eleven times previously. Unser and Lazier are the only drivers in the field with more than ten starts at the Speedway. Robby Gordon and Scott Sharp each have nine previous "500" races. Greg Ray has competed in seven events. Every other driver has less than five runs at the Speedway in May. All three front row starters, Buddy Rice, Dan Wheldon and Dario Franchitti, have but one "Indy" race apiece.

The eight rookies in the field (Kosuke Matsuura, Mark Taylor, Darren Manning, Ed Carpenter, Larry Foyt, Jeff Simmons, P.J. Jones and Marty Roth) appear to be mostly a reasonable group of first time "500" competitors. Foyt's experience is marginal and Roth's legitimacy is questionable, but I have seen several drivers with less experience compete in the "Indianapolis 500."

Eight rookies isn't an exceptionally large number of rookie drivers for "Indy." Don't forget that eleven rookies started the 1965 "500." That group included Mario Andretti, Gordon Johncock, Mickey Rupp, Bobby Johns, Al Unser, Billy Foster, Arnie Knepper, George Snider, Masten Gregory, Jerry Grant and Joe Leonard.

What about the 33 drivers in the field for the 1996 "500," that included rookies Richie Hearn, Robbie Buhl, Davey Hamilton, Michel Jourdain, Scott Harrington, Buzz Calkins, Jim Guthrie, Mark Dismore, Fermin Velez, Joe Gosek, Brad Murphey, Tony Stewart, Racin Gardner, Johnny OConnell, Michele Alboreto, Paul Durant and Johnny Unser?

By my count there were seventeen first year drivers starting the 1996 "500," which ranks among my favorite races at the Speedway. That means the majority of starters for that race were rookies. However I do acknowledge some of the guys in the 1996 rookie class were pretty questionable.  

I feature photos of my two favorites, Tomas Scheckter and Al Unser Jr., on this page.

Nothing would make me happier than to see one of these two drivers win the 88th "Indy 500."

It would be so cool if Little Al wins number three. It would revive his fading career!

Scheckter has led 85 and 63 laps respectively in the two most recent races, both times leading more laps than any other driver. I think Tomas deserves to win the "500" and I want to see him do it just like I want to see Unser Jr. win for the third time. 

Unfortunately, I'm not confident either of my favorites has an encouraging shot at success today - that is if there isn't a rain out.

Little Al is racing for the first time this season, with the brand new Patrick Racing team.

Pat Patrick sold his CART equipment and decided to finally to switch to the Indy Racing League. But the deal to enter Unser Jr. came late and Patrick is running his venture out of Derrick Walker's shops in Indianapolis. 

To compensate for the team's hurried start, Al worked harder during practice in the painfully plain red (not one of the prettier race cars this May) Patrick Dallara - Chevy than I have seen him do in all the years I have been watching the two time "Indianapolis 500" winner. Unser Jr. ran a total of 442 laps in practice, in his primary car 20, and 329 in his backup 20T. It seemed like whenever I looked, one of Little Al's red cars was passing by.

Unfortunately, Junior didn't go fast. His fastest practice lap of 218.272 mph (May 15) only ranked 38 out of the 63 car driver combinations which made laps at the Speedway during the month. That's not encouraging for fans like me.

There is always that hope however the breaks will fall Al's way and he will experience one of those "Cinderella" stories like his dad in the 1987 "Indianapolis 500." But I'm not holding my breath.

In 1987, Big Al Unser was racing for the best Indy car team in the business.

Even though the year old number 25 Cummins Holset March - Cosworth had been sitting in a Pennsylvania hotel lobby immediately before it was pressed into use by Penske Racing, Unser Sr. had a decent shot at winning under certain circumstances. The competition is obviously stronger in 2004. Pat Patrick, Derrick Walker, Steve Newey, Steve Krisiloff and the other guys supporting Little Al are essentially a make shift group, thrown together in a hurry and very much out of touch with the Indy Racing League in 2004.

It would be a terrific story and a valuable marketing tool for both the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League if Unser Jr. could win. Al's win at Texas Motor Speedway last June was wildly popular with the 92,000 fans on hand. The only driver who would get more media for winning than Al Unser Jr. is Sarah Fisher.

Sadly, the dream situation for the Speedway, the IRL and Unser fans seems very unlikely. About the best I can hope for is perhaps a fifth place finish and that's only if there is unusual attrition. With the quality of teams and cars starting the 88th "Indianapolis 500," that is an unlikely proposition.

Before Little Al's other fans curse my name, let me state that if Unser Jr. were driving for - say the Andretti Green or Rahal Letterman teams - his chances for success today would increase substantially.

I'm grateful for the opportunity Pat Patrick has provided, but in the final analysis, it will be too little too late.

Tomas Scheckter's prospects for victory don't seem much better. I think the Panther team is one of the better organizations in Indy car racing. But I have my doubts the Chevrolet/Cosworth engine can produce enough power for Tomas to race competitively with the top Honda powered cars.

Scheckter had a "so so" May in Indianapolis in the yellow Pennzoil Panther Dallara - Chevrolet. The fastest practice lap came early morning Pole day May 15, when he turned a lap at 221.404 mph. That was tenth quick for the month. Tomas ran a total of 175 laps in practice in his primary number 4 entry and another 282 circuits in the backup 4T. 

For that matter, I don't look for Roger Penske to win a record fourth consecutive "Indy 500" either, even though I believe Sam Hornish is the best driver in Indy cars today and Helio Castroneves is a throwback to Rick Mears and Emerson Fittipaldi when it comes to racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.

Nor do I believe one of Chip Ganassi's Target cars is likely to win either. Scott Dixon is possibly the second best Indy car driver overall, behind Hornish. Like the drivers for Marlboro Team Penske, the defending Indy Racing League champion and his new teammate Darren Manning are hampered by the underpowered three liter version of the Toyota V8.

So far, I have listed these story lines for the 88th "Indianapolis 500." The "500" continues to lose some of it's former popularity. Ticket sales are down and so is the car count. The engines from Chevrolet and Toyota both appear to lack horsepower to the new Honda package.

It's significant that substantive changes in regulations will debut in the 88th "500." The reduction from 3.5 to three liters has meant a loss of about 100 horsepower. The revised engine specs combined with the added wicker bills and under tray sculpture have slowed the cars about ten miles per hour from May 2003.

Honda looks like it is the benefactor of the new regulations!

In 2003, Toyota powered cars were victorious eleven times in Indy Racing League competition, including a dominating run in the 87th "Indianapolis 500," with the Japanese auto giant taking first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth place finishes. After General Motors dropped the in house Gen 3 package in favor of a 3.5 liter "Indy" V8 prototype from Cosworth, that was designed for a potential Ford program originally, Sam Hornish took three wins with the engine carrying the Chevrolet badge. The Honda package from Ilmor only took two victories last season.

Things have changed in 2004! 

The Penske duo of Hornish and Castroneves raced to a "one - two" in the season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway on February 29. But the Andretti Green teammates Tony Kanaan and Dan Wheldon drove to dominant wins in the two most recent IRL events at Phoenix and Twin Ring Motegi respectively.

Since activity began at the Speedway, on May 9, it's been mostly Honda powered cars which have been in the spotlight.

Defending Indy Racing League champion Scott Dixon (219.760) led 33 cars, which ran a total of 913 laps, on  May 9, the opening day of official "500" activity.

The following day, Helio Castroneves put Toyota at the top of the speed charts again with a lap at 220.300 mph, as thirty cars traveled 1122 laps around the 2.5 mile oval.

On May 11, rookie Kosuke Matsuura turned a lap at 221.857 mph, to lead 31 cars, which ran 1711 laps at speed.

Honda power was in front of the parade again on May 12. Tony Kanaan  bested twenty eight other cars, which completed 1567 laps, with a fast lap at 222.668 mph. 

It was Castroneves' turn again to lead the thirty car pack on May 13, after rain showers reduced practice to less than three hours and 947 laps. Helio topped the speed charts with a lap at 221.156 mph.

Friday May 14 was mostly wiped out by rain and only four cars turned a total of nine laps. Sarah Fisher had the fastest speed at 212.616 mph.    

Pole day Saturday May 15 was forecast to be a nice day. But the weatherman misled us. It rained in the morning and it was after 12 noon before race cars got on to the 2.5 mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A total of twenty seven cars participated in two forty minute sessions preceding qualifications for the 88th "Indianapolis 500." Tony Kanaan's lap of 223.224 mph topped the charts with fastest speed of May 2004.

Unfortunately for Kanaan, the best the affable Brazilian could do when he qualified was an average speed of 221.200 mph, for fifth on the starting grid.

But Buddy Rice surprised the Indy Racing League community when he took the pole at 222.024 mph, leading a charge by Honda to capture the first seven spots in the lineup for today's race and eight of the first nine starting positions. In all, twenty two cars qualified for the 88th "500," with Larry Foyt slowest with an average speed of 213.277 mph.  

Sunday May 16, following "500" Pole day, played out the way it usually does. The second day of qualifications is usually one of the slower sessions at the Speedway in May. People are often tired following the nail biting intensity of the previous day (even if hardly anyone shows up any more) with the traditional battle for pole position, up front starting positions and bragging rights.   

This time, Bryan Herta, Alex Barron and Felipe Giaffone were on missions to compensate for first turn crashes by all three drivers during the previous Pole day qualifying runs. Each of the three made up for their Saturday misadventures with successful runs on Sunday the 16th. Tora Takagi also qualified, bringing the field to 26 cars total.

The pace was relative leisurely and only fifteen cars made it on to the race track to run a total of 888 laps. Herta's pre-qualifying lap of 220.073 mph topped the practice speed charts.

The track surface at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was quiet on Monday May 17 and Tuesday May 18.

All twenty five cars, which ran a total of 1812 laps, were driven by already qualified drivers. With the exception of Ed Carpenter, Robby Gordon, Larry Foyt and Marty Roth, the other 22 cars were backup machines set up in race day trim. Scott Dixon's quick lap of 220.576 mph prompted speculation Toyota Racing Development (TRD) found some of the horsepower lost to the Ilmor Honda V8 package.    

Twenty five cars practiced for a month leading total of 2027 laps around the Speedway on Thursday May 20. Honda was back on top of the charts, this time with rookie Kosuke Matsuura fastest at 220.784 mph.

Twenty seven different cars took to the track on Friday May 21, running a total of 1518 laps. Adrian Fernandez put Honda power on top again with a fast lap of 218.257 mph. There were some new car driver combinations on the track too, in anticipation of the final qualifying day on Sunday May 23.

The additions included 1996 "Indianapolis 500" winner Buddy Lazier, driving one of the Dreyer & Reinbold Dallara - Chevrolets, who was fastest among the "new guys" with a lap at 215.513 mph, which was fifteenth quick on the day. Brother Jacques Lazier was the other "first timer" on the oval, turning ten laps in the Foyt Conseco Dallara - Toyota backup 14T.

Twenty six cars practiced on Saturday May 22, sharing the bill with the Menards Infiniti Pro Series "Freedom 100" race. Recent CART import Fernandez was fastest again at 218.495 mph. Sam Schmidt leased a G Force - Toyota from Roger Penske for Richie Hearn just as in May 2003. Hearn appeared on the track in his white number 33 for the first time. Jeff Simmons (Pioneer Mo Nunn Racing Dallara - Toyota), P.J. Jones (CURB Records Dallara - Chevy) and Robbie McGehee (backup Robby Gordon Dallara - Chevy) were other new competitors to appear on track.

Greg Ray spent most of this month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway trying to find enough money to pay his engine leasing tab with Honda so he could put his Access Motorsports G Force number 13 on to the track. However it was Sunday May 23 before Ray was able to make his first laps. After turning a total of twenty practice circuits, the 1999 Indy Racing League champion qualified twenty seventh for the 88th "Indianapolis 500," when he ran a day high four lap average of 216.641 mph. 

In my opinion, Greg Ray's struggle to keep his low budget Access Motorsports G Force - Honda running in 2004 is one of the most interesting stories going now. I admire the Texan's tenacity and the fact that he isn't doing a bad on track either. Buddy Lazier, Jeff Simmons, Richie Hearn, P.J. Jones, Marty Roth and Robbie McGehee made their qualifying attempts before the mid afternoon rain showers brought track activity to a halt.

Before the qualifying got underway, fifteen cars completed 565 laps of practice. For the fourth consecutive day, one of the cars from the Fernandez - Super Aguri stable of G Force - Hondas was fastest. This time it was Kosuke Matsuura's turn to be number one after running a quick lap at 218.692 mph.

Then there was the annual Carburetion Day festivities on Thursday May 27.

The crowd for "Carb day" was much larger than I expected. I took a vacation day from work and left home at 10 AM, figuring I had plenty of time to get situated in the pits for the 11 AM start of the two hour final practice session for the upcoming 88th "500."

As things developed, I got caught in traffic and I had to park in the "north forty" lot south of 30th Street. I was still walking to the tunnel at the north end of the Speedway when the cars began to move on to the track.  

So I made a quick decision to do something different. I climbed into those older small bleachers at the east end of the North Vista seats. I was trying to get some of those classic frontal photos of the cars coming through turn three. I have never been able to get those shots and this year was no exception.

If I try this during May 2005, during practice for the 89th "Indianapolis 500," I will get under the grandstands and stand against the outer safety fence until someone chases me away.

It was still interesting to watch the action from this vantage point however. The sense of speed is unique and this location offers a perspective I don't get from my customary vantage points.

The teams approach Carburetion Day with caution. No one wants to crash his qualified car, have to switch to a backup and move to the rear of the field. All 33 cars made laps but the totals number of trips around the Speedway totaled only 624 laps. Kosuke Matsuura was fastest again with a lap at 219.226 mph. This marked the fifth day in succession that a car from the Fernandez Super Aguri garages won high speed honors.

Okay so where does all this bring us?

To me, it says the winning car in the 88th "Indianapolis 500" is going to carry Honda power. There are eleven cars powered by the Honda V8 package from Ilmor Engineering. The list of Honda powered cars are driven by Buddy Rice, Dan Wheldon, Dario Franchitti, Bruno Junqueira, Tony Kanaan, Adrian Fernandez, Vitor Meira, Kosuke Matsuura, Roger Yasukawa, Bryan Herta and Greg Ray.

It seems highly unlikely Ray will be able to combat the might of the more highly funded Honda teams, so you can rule out car 13. It also seems to be a stretch to expect Yasukawa, Meira and even Matsuura to win, even though the colorful rookie from Japan was fastest on a month high four occasions during the fourteen practice sessions at the Speedway.

That leaves Rice, Wheldon, Franchitti, Junqueira, Kanaan, Fernandez and Herta as potential "500" winners for Honda. The Andretti Green team is Honda's flagship entry and each of the team's four drivers have to be considered. Thus far however, Dario Franchitti has yet to show me he has the ability to win in the Indy Racing League, let alone at "Indy." Herta is an IRL race winner (Kansas 2003) and Bryan is a lot better racer than during his early seasons racing in CART, Laguna Seca notwithstanding. Still Herta starts back in 23rd on the grid and there are a lot of fast guys in front of him.

I'm not sure about Junqueira's one off IRL entry from Carl Haas and a missing Paul Newman. I think Bruno is a good enough driver to win the "500." But the Open Wheel Racing Series competitor doesn't look as strong to me as Rice, Wheldon, Kanaan and Fernandez.

Both Wheldon and Kanaan appear to be likely winners today. Kanaan especially has the look of a winner.

I think the G Force chassis may have a slight advantage over the Dallara at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2004 however. It's a very small measurement to be sure. But I have an intuitive feeling the Panoz car may be just that much faster under racing conditions.

Although he has yet to score an Indy car victory, in the IRL or CART, I do see Buddy Rice as a very strong competitor today. 

In this recent era of closely matched "Indy" starting grids, I have been reluctant to go out on a limb and make an absolute prediction about who I think will win the "500." I used to feel comfortable picking winners in the old days but in the past several Mays, it's been difficult because the level of competition has been very high.

I can't necessarily define my feelings about Adrian Fernandez this time. But I have this idea swirling around in my head the eight time CART race winner from Mexico is going to win today. Fernandez hasn't raced in the "Indianapolis 500" since 1995. He will be making only his third start in Indy Racing League competition.

For me, Fernandez has that magic look about him, the look of an "Indianapolis 500" winner.  

I have been up all night writing this piece. I'm full of caffeine and my stomach is in knots. I have smoked way too many cigarettes. I almost wish it would pour down rain and they call it a day and postpone the "500" until tomorrow when the weather forecast is much more promising.

Maybe I'm just not emotionally ready to see the "Indianapolis 500." But the crew at IMS is trying to dry the track from the morning rain. The sky is filled with nasty clouds overhead and things don't look too promising for racing today. But it's time to go!   

I'll post this later.      

My pick to win the 88th "Indianapolis 500," Adrian Fernandez, practices on opening practice day May 9, 2004 (Bob Jennings photo)