IRL: Robby Gordon Indy 500 Test Thursday notes

Robby Gordon Completes Successful Indy 500 Test

INDIANAPOLIS -- Robby Gordon Thursday completed his two days of testing in preparation for the May 30 Indianapolis 500 with a best lap of 216.778 mph (41.517 seconds) in the No. 70 Meijer/Coca-Cola Dallara-Chevrolet he owns. Gordon concentrated on a race set-up after immediately finding speed Wednesday with the third fastest lap of the day. On Thursday, he was 10th best in windy conditions, and completed 56 laps of the 2.5-mile oval.

"We didn't even make an attempt for outright speed on one lap," said Thomas Knapp, team manager/engineer. "Just boring, race-day stuff. Robby said he's very pleased with what we've done over these two days."

Sam Hornish was fastest with a 220.113 mph (40.888 seconds) lap. The Speedway is now closed until the official start of practice on Sunday, May 9. Pole qualifying is Saturday, May 15, and the race is Sunday, May 30. For the third consecutive year, Gordon will be attempting the "Double," by racing in both the Indy 500 and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte on the same day.

Gordon will be in action this weekend at California Speedway, driving his own Fruit of the Loom Chevrolet in Saturday's NASCAR Busch Series race, and the Cingular Wireless Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in Sunday's 500-mile Cup event.

-rgm-