Indy 500: Vision Racing day five report

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Vision Racing welcomed quicker speeds along with 1979 Masters champion and 1984 U.S. Open winner Fuzzy Zoeller in Day 5 practice for the 2010 Indianapolis 500 today. Driver Ed Carpenter piloted the No. 20 Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka car to a quick lap of 224.537 mph; good enough for 13th fastest on the speed charts.

Carpenter completed a total of 46 laps in his Vision Racing's No. 20 Honda powered Dallara, sponsored by Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka. He will be making his 100th IZOD IndyCar Series start and is preparing for his seventh Indianapolis 500-mile race and sixth with Vision Racing. Last season Carpenter started 17th and drove to eighth place finish. His best drive at Indianapolis came in 2008 when he started 10th, drove his first career IndyCar Series leader laps (3), and finished fifth.

Meanwhile, team partner, Panther Racing and driver Dan Wheldon completed 45 laps with a top speed of 222.79 mph in the National Guard No. 4 Dallara/Honda/Firestone car. Wheldon is the 2005 Indianapolis 500 champion and is making his eighth IZOD IndyCar Series start at the Brickyard.

IZOD IndyCar Series action will resume Thursday at noon for practice and will conclude at 6 p.m.

Team sponsor Fuzzy Zoeller will be back to the track to oversee the team's progress Thursday through Pole Day. Known as one of the most fun loving personalities in the history of the game, the Indiana native and professional golfer entered into the spirits business in July 2009, launching his own ultra premium vodka which is displayed on the No.20 livery for the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing".

"I've won some majors in my golf career, and there is no doubt the Indianapolis 500 is the major championship in the world of motor racing," said Fuzzy Zoeller who has twelve tour victories on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour including the Masters, the U.S. Open and the Senior PGA Championship. "I am very excited about our partnership with Tony (George), Ed (Carpenter) and Panther Racing, and their deep ties to Indiana. I would love to add another major to my resume. Ed's resume on ovals is impressive, so we think we have a shot."

Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Fuzzy's Vodka/Vision Racing/Panther Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone

"Practice was good. It was much more productive than yesterday. We were able to get in some good race simulation and running and I feel okay with where we are. We obviously need to do some work to make me really happy going into the race, but we've got some time and I think we're in a pretty good place. We got in a decent run with some of the Andretti Autosport cars and had a good run with (Scott) Dixon too. I think our pace is okay, we've just got to get the car a little more comfortable in traffic. We're not too far off, so for the most part, I'm happy. I'm excited to start focusing on qualifying a little bit. That takes a whole different mentality so I will start preparing myself for that. But, today was fun because I got in some good runs and I got to meet Fuzzy Zoeller for the first time. We wouldn't be here without him and Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka so it was fun to meet him. He definitely lived up to the hype of everything I was told about him. I'm looking forward to spending the rest of the weekend with him and getting a good result for him."

-source: vision racing