Andretti

INDIANAPOLIS -- During his illustrious career at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Michael Andretti usually has been one of the favorites to start on the front row, not sweat out making the field for the Indianapolis 500.

But for the second year in a row, a poor qualifying effort on Pole Day has left the CART driver in an uncomfortable situation. Andretti's four-lap average of 226.780 miles per hour Saturday has left him the second-slowest of the 24 cars that have qualified for the 33-car starting lineup.

Practice for the 86th Indianapolis 500 resumed Wednesday, with two of A.J. Foyt's drivers turning in the fastest laps of the day. Brazil's Airton Dare turned a lap of 228.638 mph in a Dallara/Chevrolet and was followed by teammate Greg Ray at 227.909 mph. Neither driver has made it into the starting lineup.

Andretti's fastest lap of the day was 21st at 224.937 mph, but the driver said Team Green concentrated on race setup.

The final round of qualifying, known as Bump Day, is Sunday.

"We were basically working on our race setup today and I was quite happy with it," Andretti said. "If we get in, we're ready. If not, we're probably going to have to work a little bit on the qualifying setup. As for the race, we're ready."

Andretti is trying to make the starting field here for the 13th time. In all likelihood, he should get in the race due to simple math -- there are nine spots to be filled in the starting lineup, many of which will be slower than Andretti's seemingly fragile speed.

At least 11 drivers would have to post speeds faster than Andretti's qualifying speed to knock him out.

Regardless, it's just another situation that raises Andretti's anxiety level at the Indianapolis 500, a race he never has won despite leading 398 laps -- more than any non-winner in the storied history of the race.

"It's supposed to be really cold on Sunday, so that worries me a little bit," Andretti said.

When the temperature is cooler, speeds often are faster. However, a cold track can cause dangerous conditions.

Sunday's high is predicted to be 58 degrees, which means the final hour of qualifying could produce extremely fast conditions.

"We're hoping that we're all right, but we can't sit there and hope, we have to make sure we are ready just in case we have to be," Andretti said. "Hopefully, we'll have 39T (backup car) up to speed if we need it."

Andretti is part of a three-car effort for Team Green that includes fellow CART drivers Paul Tracy and Dario Franchitti, both of whom have yet to qualify.

"I have a lot of confidence in both of those guys," Andretti said. "They are both racers. When it comes down to it, they will figure it out and get the job done."

Of the other CART teams participating in the Indianapolis 500 under Indy Racing League rules, Target/Chip Ganassi Racing and Mo Nunn Racing also have full-time IRL teams. That has benefited those programs for this race.

Team Green tried to do it on its own and has struggled with the IRL car, which handles differently than the car the team uses in CART.

"That helps because they have more experience with these cars," Andretti admitted. "I'm sure everybody learns something at places like Fontana, California, that has helped them here. We don't have that experience. I'm sure Barry Green would do an IRL if the budget allowed that.

"Right now, we are scratching our heads a little bit. I think we have a pretty good car if we do get in the race, but our qualifying speed hasn't been very good."

The dynamics of the Indianapolis 500 have changed dramatically since CART teams began to return two years ago. Before the creation of the IRL in 1996, most CART teams that tried to qualify for the Indy 500 were successful. The exceptions were Team Rahal failing to make the field in 1993 and Marlboro Team Penske missing the race in 1995.

This year, the best CART teams and the best IRL teams have created an extremely competitive situation at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"I think it's more competitive than it has ever been because of that," Andretti said. "The IRL teams have totally stepped it up to an equal level as the CART teams. Now you have all those teams to battle with, plus the CART teams that are coming over.

"It's changed the race big-time. It's become very difficult to make the field. I think it's good for open-wheel racing that we have the competitiveness of this race back to where it should be, and that is a healthy thing for all of us whether we like it or not."