IPS: IRL: Indianapolis pre-race notes, schedule

90th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race/Freedom 100 Fast Facts

WHAT:
IndyCar® Series:
90th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, fourth race in 14-race 2006 season

Indy Pro Series:
Freedom 100, fourth race in 12-race 2006 season

WHERE:
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2.5-mile asphalt oval

WHEN:
IndyCar Series: 1 p.m. (EDT), Sunday, May 28
Indy Pro Series: 12:30 p.m. (EDT), Friday, May 26

DISTANCE:
IndyCar Series: 200 laps/500 miles
Indy Pro Series: 40 laps/100 miles

POSTED AWARDS:
IndyCar Series: More than $10 million
Indy Pro Series: $300,000

CARS:
IndyCar Series: Dallara and Panoz chassis; Honda Indy V-8 engines; Firestone tires

Indy Pro Series: Dallara chassis; Firestone tires

PREVIOUS RACE WINNERS:
IndyCar Series era: Dan Wheldon (2005), Buddy Rice (2004), Gil de Ferran (2003), Helio Castroneves (2002, 2001), Juan Montoya (2000), Kenny Brack (1999), Eddie Cheever (1998), Arie Luyendyk (1997), Buddy Lazier (1996).

Indy Pro Series: Jaime Camara (2005), Thiago Medeiros (2004), Ed Carpenter (2003).

2005 SERIES CHAMPIONS:
IndyCar Series: Dan Wheldon
Indy Pro Series: Wade Cunningham

TV:
IndyCar Series: Race: ABC (live), Noon (EDT), May 28
Indy Pro Series: Race: ESPN2 (same day tape), 3 p.m. (EDT), May 26

RADIO:
IndyCar Series: Qualifying: IMS Radio Network, Noon -- 2 p.m. and 5-6 p.m., May 13-14 and May 20-21; Pre-race: IMS Radio Network (live), Noon (EDT), May 28
Race: IMS Radio Network (live), 1 p.m., May 28

Live coverage of Qualifying and the race also will be available at www.indycar.com. The race broadcast is also available on XM Satellite Radio channel 145 "IndyCar Racing"

Indy Pro Series: Pre-race: IMS Radio Network (live), 12:15 p.m. (EDT), May 26
Race: IMS Radio Network (live), 12:30 p.m., May 26

Live coverage of Qualifying and the race also will be available at www.indycar.com.

SCHEDULE (all times local; subject to change):

May 7: THE STAR AND CAREERBUILDER.COM OPENING DAY -- ROOKIE ORIENTATION PROGRAM
Noon-5 p.m.

May 8: ROOKIE ORIENTATION PROGRAM
Noon-5 p.m.

May 9-11: PRACTICE (All drivers)
Noon-6 p.m.

May 12: FAST FRIDAY PRACTICE (All drivers)
Noon-6 p.m.

May 13: WORLDPOINTS VISA CARD POLE DAY QUALIFYING
9-11 a.m., Practice
Noon-6 p.m., WorldPoints Visa Pole Qualifications
6 p.m., WorldPoints Visa Pole Award Ceremony (Victory Podium)

May 14: SECOND DAY QUALIFYING
Noon-6 p.m.

May 17-19: PRACTICE (All drivers)
Noon-6 p.m.

May 20: COCA-COLA THROWBACK DAY QUALIFYING
10:15-11:15 a.m., Practice
Noon-6 p.m., Qualifications

May 21: BUMP DAY (Final day of qualifications)
10:15-11:15 a.m., Practice
Noon-6 p.m., Qualifications

May 25: FREEDOM 100 PRACTICE, QUALIFYING
9-9:45 a.m. and 11-11:45 a.m., Freedom 100 Practice
1:15 p.m. -- Freedom 100 SWE Race Car Parts Pole Qualifying
3:40 -4 p.m. -- Freedom 100 Final Practice

May 26: MILLER LITE CARB DAY
11 a.m.-noon, IndyCar Series Practice
Noon,, Freedom 100 Pre-Race
12:30 p.m., Freedom 100
1:30-3 p.m., Checkers/Rally's Pit Stop Competition
3:30 p.m., Miller Lite Carb Day Concert

May 28: RACE DAY
1 p.m., 90th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race

THE TRACK:
Total track length: 2.5 miles
Front straight: 5/8-mile
Back straight: 5/8-mile
Turns: 1/4-mile
Short chutes: 1/8-mile
Total turns: Four
Turn banking: 9 degrees, 12 minutes
Straightaway banking: 0 degrees
Straightaway width: 50 feet
Turn width: 60 feet

* The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in 1909, with a 2.5-mile oval circuit. The Indianapolis 500 has taken place annually on the oval track since 1911, except during world wars in 1917-18 and 1942-45. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the largest spectator sporting facility in the world. The Speedway plays host to three of the largest-attended sporting events in the world: The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and the United States Grand Prix.

INDIANAPOLIS 500 NOTES:

* Six Indianapolis 500 champions are expected to participate in the Indianapolis 500: Al Unser Jr. (1992 1994), Buddy Lazier (1996), Eddie Cheever (1998) Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002), Buddy Rice (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005).

* As of May 7, drivers entered in the Indianapolis 500 have combined for 80 IndyCar Series victories, 62 pole positions and 997 starts.

* The 90th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race will be the 11th IndyCar Series event conducted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is the only track to host an event in each of the previous 10 IndyCar Series seasons.

* Six IndyCar Series champions are scheduled to participate in the Indianapolis 500: Scott Sharp (1996 co-champion), Buddy Lazier (2000), Sam Hornish Jr. (2001, 2002), Scott Dixon (2003), Tony Kanaan (2004) and Dan Wheldon (2005).

FREEDOM 100 NOTES:

* Bussell looks to extend record: Nick Bussell, who ranks fourth in points, has been running at the finish in 17 consecutive Indy Pro Series races, establishing a series record. He'll look to push the streak to 18 at Indianapolis. Bussell also leads the series with 13 consecutive top-10 finishes. He's three shy of the record held by 2004 Freedom 100 winner Thiago Medeiros.

* Herb to take over consecutive starts lead: Jeff Simmons leads the Indy Pro Series with 20 consecutive starts, but with Simmons graduating to the IndyCar Series with Rahal Letterman Racing, Jon Herb will be the Ironman. The Freedom 100 will be Herb's 20th consecutive race.

***

The 2006 IRL IndyCar Series continues with the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 at 1 p.m. (EDT) on May 28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. ABC will broadcast the race live beginning at noon (EDT). A Spanish-language telecast of the race will be carried by ESPN Deportes. Live coverage on the IMS Radio Network begins at noon (EDT). The IMS Radio Network broadcast also is carried on XM Satellite Radio channel 145 "IndyCar Racing" and www.indycar.com. The fifth season of Indy Pro Series competition continues with the Freedom 100 at 12:30 p.m. on May 26 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race will be telecast as part of ESPN2's Carb Day coverage on May 26. Live coverage on the IMS Radio Network begins at 12:15 p.m. (EDT).

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