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Friday, May 18
Bleak Indy looking better for Salazar
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS – Eliseo Salazar sat at the podium with a
black eye and a smile -- symbols of the rollercoaster ride that has
defined this May.
First, there were two crashes. Then, when it appeared Salazar
would qualify for the Indianapolis 500, he blew an engine on the
last lap of his qualifying attempt.
|  | | Eliseo Salazar has had no luck in his attempts to qualify for the Indy 500. |
On Thursday, Salazar finally got it right.
He turned a fast lap of 218.891 mph, sixth fastest of the day
and third fastest among drivers not yet in the race.
"I always say racing is black and white," Salazar said.
"Obviously, the blackest moments are when you crash, so hopefully
we can turn this around."
Salazar's shift in fortunes began Tuesday when his wife
delivered a 10-pound, 6-ounce boy, Eliseo VI, in Miami. When
Salazar returned to the track, team owner A.J. Foyt had a new car,
equipped with a new motor, ready to drive.
On Thursday, Salazar took his new ride onto the track for the
first time, turned 33 laps and watched his speeds steadily
increase.
For Salazar, it was almost picture perfect.
"It was definitely not about speeds today because the weather
is so hot and muggy," Salazar said. "So we were just shaking down
a brand new car and trying to get rid of some problems."
One minor problem did surface -- with the fuel pickup. But Foyt's
team got that fixed and sent Salazar on his way.
The 45-year-old driver did the rest, trying to rectify what had
been a a nightmarish week.
"This is quite unusual and disappointing, but that is what
motor racing is all about and especially at Indy," Salazar said of
his first week of practice. "It happens, things like this happen,
and we just expect to correct them on Sunday."
Salazar wasn't the only Foyt driver to succeed Thursday.
Robby Gordon, who qualified third, turned 22 laps while working
on race setup, and Donnie Beechler jumped into Salazar's rebuilt
backup and posted a 218.224.
"I haven't been in a car since October and haven't been here
since last year," said Beechler, who has started three Indy 500s.
"We weren't planning on going fast, but I took some laps and A.J.
slapped some tires on."
Beechler's speed was 13th of 26 drivers who made it onto the
track despite a 3-hour, 37-minute rain delay, but it was fourth
among drivers still looking for a spot in the race.
The only non-qualifiers faster than Salazar and Beechler were
Billy Boat and Raul Boesel. Boat's 220.866 marked the second
straight day he was among the leaders, and Boesel, who was hired
Wednesday by the Treadway-Hubbard team, went 220.518.
The mission on the Foyt team, however, is clear.
"Our main objective right now is to get Eliseo in the show,"
Beechler said. "I have no doubt in his ability. I am confident in
it."
Salazar also has not lost confidence.
He just wants to rid himself of the black eye he suffered last
week -- two crashes and a blown engine
"If The Weather Channel is right, it should be much cooler this
weekend, and then we should be back up to the mid-220s," Salazar
said. "Hopefully, that has turned around and will be different."
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