INDIANAPOLIS -- Jimmy Kite, who was still in line when rain ended Indianapolis 500 qualifications more than an hour early last year, was named driver of the No. 18 Dallara-Chevrolet for PDM Racing on Monday.

Rookie driver Scott Mayer originally was entered as the PDM driver but did not complete the rookie test.

"I went out today and shook it down, and we're going to go out tomorrow and try to get some speed out of it," said Kite, who was 11th as a rookie at Indianapolis in 1998 but has not driven in the race since finishing 30th three years ago.

"The problem right now, with Scott not passing the rookie test -- that was where the (sponsorship) money was coming into run the team -- they need money right now," Kite said. "They've got some leads, and hopefully one of them comes through. If not, Wednesday or Thursday this week I might be in the same situation I was last week, without a ride."

Kite is eager to make up for his frustration last year.

"I was next to go out, they were getting ready to send me out, and that's when it started sprinkling," he said. "That's one of the reasons they said I was the first one they called (to drive for PDM). We all feel like we've got a lot of unfinished business."

Hoops, anyone?
Basketball and auto racing, two sports for which Indiana is famous, came together at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Katie Gearlds, Indiana's high school Miss Basketball, and Justin Cage, the state's Mr. Basketball, were at the track on Monday.

"That's pretty intense out there," said Gearlds, a Purdue recruit. "They come by so fast and it's loud, and you get a little dust knocked up on you."

Standing at the side of the track in front of the pits, Gearlds waved the green flag to start Monday's practice.

"I've had some intense basketball games, but that's something I'll never forget," she said.

The visit to the track was the first for Cage, a Xavier recruit.

"It's big. I'm really surprised," he said. "It's a lot more exciting than I thought it was going to be. The cars are loud and fast."

Mini Meira
The first driver to complete a lap at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this month did it without a race car.

Vitor Meira, a rookie from Brazil, took part in the annual Indy Mini-Marathon, a 13.5-mile run that includes one lap around the 2.5-mile track.

"What a great experience," said Meira, who finished Saturday's race in 1 hour, 30 minutes, more than 26 minutes behind winner Joseph Kariuki of Kenya. "It was more crowded than the start of the Indy 500, where there are only 33 competitors, not 25,000. When I ran past the start-finish line at the track I stopped to touch the bricks."

Meira, 26, was fifth in the European F3000 series in 2001 and made his IRL debut last year, when he had three top-10 finishes in his four starts for Team Menard. Indy would be his first start of this season.

"The Indy 500 will now be the 502{ for me since I already got one lap of racing completed," he said.

Festival queen
Megan McManama, a junior at Indiana State University, is the Indy 500 Festival queen and will preside at festival activities throughout the month, including the annual parade and the race.

"May 25 will definitely be something I will remember for the rest of my life," the Indianapolis native said.

McManama was crowned on Sunday during a ceremony before the track opened for practice.