Mack

INDIANAPOLIS -- Rookie George Mack's practice went up in smoke Saturday.

Mack, driving the No. 30 car for the new 310 Racing team, had engine problems with only about 30 minutes left in Saturday's practice for the Indianapolis 500.

It was the latest disappointment for Mack, who will attempt to qualify Sunday.

Mack did not practice Friday because of nausea and dizziness he suffered the previous night. Mack said doctors believe it could have been a result of his crash Wednesday into the first-turn wall. He was not injured and his car sustained light damage.

"We tested Thursday and I felt fine," he said. "But my equilibrium was all screwy yesterday. I couldn't stand up without falling down. It may have just been a viral thing."

Mack is feeling nervous about waiting until the final day to qualify for the May 26 race. Mack waved off his only attempt in last Saturday's time trials, and Sunday was rained out.

Before the engine problems, his best time was 225.299 mph. He's slated to be the 22nd car out of 37 competing Sunday.

If Mack makes the field, he would join Willy T. Ribbs as the only two black drivers to start at Indianapolis. Mack said he's felt the pressure that comes with that distinction.

"I probably apply more pressure to myself than anyone else does," he said. "I'm always that way, but it's been more intense than usual."

Mack said missing practice has set him back.

"The changes that we make need to be a little more closer to right," he said. "We don't have much time right now. We have to be moving in the right direction."

Mack had more than 200 karting victories from 1986-98 and won the International Karting Federation Grand National Championship in 1994.

Double duty
Johnny Herbert probably will spend Sunday in two different race cars, a private jet and two helicopters.

Herbert, a three-time winner on the Formula One circuit, will attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday morning before flying to Sonoma, Calif., to drive in the American Le Mans Series event that afternoon.

"It's a tough decision," he said. "I've just got to put everything together. I've got to see if it's worth staying here and doing it. We're still way to out on the edge and the edge is not a good thing to be on."

His top time Saturday was 225.052.

"If you look at it now, I'm eighth and there's only nine spots left," he said.

Herbert had hoped to qualify last weekend, but rain wiped out a full day of time trials. Herbert, who is trying to qualify for his first Indianapolis 500, was unable to post a qualifying speed.

Herbert started the ALMS season with a victory in the Sebring 12-hour race and needs to race to protect his points position.

He is slated fourth Sunday at the speedway. After making his run, he will be helicoptered from the track to a waiting jet for the trip to California. The jet will land at Novato, Calif., where another chopper will bring Herbert to Sears Point.

"It would be perfect to qualify, go to Sears and win that one," he said.

Team Green
Only one driver in Barry Green's three-driver team has qualified for the Indianapolis 500. Michael Andretti was the 23rd fastest qualifier with a four-lap run of 226.780. Paul Tracy and Dario Franchitti have struggled but posted strong times on Saturday.

Franchitti was third with a 226.751 and Tracy was fourth with a 226.483.

"It's been a tough month, that's for sure," Green said. "Maybe if there's one mistake we made, we concentrated too much on race setups and not enough on qualifying for the first weekend."

Sunday is the last day of qualifying.

"I think both Dario and Paul seem pretty comfortable in the 226s and I think that's plenty good enough to make the race," Green said.

Green, a regular in the CART series, said mistakes, including engine trouble, have been easily correctable.

"We haven't been lost," he said. "If we get all three of these cars in the race it doesn't matter where they start. They'll be effective. I've got, I think, three of the best drivers in the race."

Team Green won the Indy 500 in 1995 with Jacques Villeneuve but did not compete at Indianapolis the next five years.

Pit stops
Andy Granatelli and Roger Penske, longtime owners in Indy Racing, and the late Sid Collins, radio voice of the Indy 500 from 1952-77, were inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Friday night. ... Mark Dismore practiced for the first time since he suffered a concussion May 9 when he crashed his Dallara. He was 25th with a 223.223. ... Scott Harrington is now the driver of the No. 37 Pit Bull Dallara. ... Thirty-seven cars and 32 drivers turned 1,738 laps Saturday.