IN SIGHT Boom. FOCUS: DAN WHELDON Wheldon It's a bit of a dream team, isn't it? Michael Andretti. Tony Kanaan. Lost Dario Franchitti to injury? No matter. Here's Robby Gordon. And after Indy? Bryan Herta's waiting in the wings to sub for the Scot. Oh, then there's that rookie kid. Kanaan and Gordon might be starting in the front row at Indy, but Dan Wheldon is getting the job done. He's been flying in practice -- leading the charts on more than one occasion -- and qualified his AGR Dallara/Honda fifth, eight spots ahead of his boss. And aside from making fun of teammate Kanaan's not so small schnoz, Wheldon's been saying all the right things. "First of all, I'd like to express my delight at being at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It's a pleasure to drive around -- when the car's right. Fortunately, my Andretti Green Racing team have given me a fantastic car leading into this qualifying day," said the 24-year-old Englishman who has won Rookie of the Year honors in several series during his career, not to mention the 1999 U.S. F2000 championship. "Certainly, with the help of Michael Andretti, Tony Kanaan and Robby Gordon, it's been strong." Not only does Wheldon have the responsibility of driving for Andretti at Indy, he's replacing the racing legend following the Indy 500. (Imagine if Wheldon wrecks Mikey to end Andretti's career? That, Alanis, would be ironic). And if his performance and poise thus far at Indy are any indication -- not to mention his seventh-place finish in his AGR debut in Japan to go along with a top-10 in his IRL debut last season -- well, Wheldon might just be getting started. "I am so impressed by Dan, he ran flat all the way around," said Andretti Green consultant Barry Green. "He has done everything we have asked this week and he is starting in the second row." Not bad for a rookie. Especially one who doesn't settle for fifth. "It's a bad thing to say, but I'm so used to being at the top that I want to stay there," said Wheldon. PIT PASS Need for speed: Juan Pablo Montoya has the reputation of driving all out on track. Apparently, he does the same off the track. Montoya had his driver's license suspended and confiscated for speeding after being caught driving at 204 kph (127 mph) on a French highway between Le Muy and Frejus, on the French Riviera. The key here? Not that he was speeding. The fact that he was speeding in a BMW. Imagine the fallout if the Williams driver had been gunning it in, say, a Mercedes? Or a Ford Focus? Speaking of Williams...: Montoya teammate Ralf Schumacher might be German but he's now living in Austria, making this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix his home race. "I live here and have many, many friends in Austria, this race is naturally something of a home event for me. At any rate, it's the Grand Prix with the shortest journey time for me: I can get there in two hours by car." Montoya could probably do it in 90 minutes. Points aren't on the line in Charlotte and Indianapolis this weekend, but that doesn't mean there's not a lot at stake. NASCAR's "All-Star" event -- The Winston -- is staged this Saturday night at Lowe's outside Charlotte. And by staged, we mean held, not fixed. Though if Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins ... The following day, it's Bump Day at Indy. Teams have one more shot at making the Indy 500 field and Billy Boat possibly has yet another year of having his bubble not burst. Sure, there's more on the line at Indy. But with funky formatting and the supposed best of the best being in The Winston field, drivers don't exactly approach the race like the exhibition that it is. Plus, there's the money. "They've upped the prize money to $1 million so that's bound to get everyone's attention," said points leader Matt Kenseth, who finished third in The Winston last year. "It's a tough race because you have to be both smart and aggressive throughout the event as the stakes get higher each segment. The trick is, you'll have less time to do both of those things well as each segment advances. In the end, it will be a great race for the fans." Money and bragging rights, but not points. Different motivators can alter the action. "The Winston is such an exciting weekend for the NASCAR community," said Kenny Wallace. "It is the one event that is all about fun. You're not racing for points; just money and the trophy. The race is all or nothing. It is all about winning." There's been controversy over the past couple of seasons over whether the event should remain in Charlotte. Most drivers have good reason to hope it stays put. "It is great to have two weekends in a row that we get to sleep in our own beds and race in our backyard," said Wallace. Indianapolis Motor Speedway, meanwhile, is the IRL's backyard, front yard and entire universe. And being in the field at Indy is what it's all about for many open wheel drivers. And that makes qualifying so important. "It was definitely nerve-racking," said Roger Yasukawa, who qualified 11th on Sunday. "I usually don't get nervous when I'm driving. It was about the same going into the car and going out of the pits, but as soon as I saw the green, I was like: 'Uh-oh.'" With only 24 cars in the lineup thus far, names like Arie Luyendyk (two-time Indy 500 winner), Billy Boat and Jimmy Vasser, along with possibles Alex Barron, Memo Gidley and Airton Dare, among others, will need to get the job done on Bump Day just to secure a spot. Sure, there are currently nine openings. But mechanical problems and concrete walls can still prevent drivers from making the field. Saturday night and Sunday drama for race fans. Not to mention F1 and NHRA action. And with Vasser at Indy, even the CART fans have something to follow. Good stuff. EXHAUST FUMES What series is that?: The Infiniti Pro Series Freedom 100 will be held at Indy Motor Speedway on Saturday, adding to the current roster of races held at the famed facility. Now, the list includes: The Indy 500, NASCAR's Brickyard 400, F1's United States Grand Prix ... and the Infiniti Pro Series? What, did the Speedway want more testing of the SAFER walls before the main event on May 25? Seriously, Indy "purists" are cringing at the idea of a minor league series racing at The Brickyard, but what better way for the IRL to build its AAA league? The Indy 500 is more of a one-day event than it had been in years past, but it's still about the month of May. People are watching, there's plenty of pub -- so why not give the IPS a tryout? You know those drivers are excited. Plus, it could be good preparation for the future. "I'm extremely excited to race at the Speedway," said Arie Luyendyk Jr. "I'm excited to drive at a place where my dad has had so much success. Hopefully it can prepare me for a possible Indy run next year. I think it's great." OVERHEARD Alex Zanardi On his laps at Lausitz: "In the past year and a half, I never got close to a racing car. It was great again to feel the speed, to feel the lateral force. It was just awesome." Greg Anderson On his recent struggles: "I've said it before when I've screwed up and I'll say it again. It sucks and I have to do a better job of driving." John Andretti On not running the Indy 500: "I'll be back there some year. It may not be this year, but it'll be some year."

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