After withstanding much anticipation and precipitation, Vision Racing drivers Ed Carpenter and Ryan Hunter-Reay finally got the opportunity to turn laps today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for the 2009 Indianapolis 500. Rain washed out the official first day of practice Wednesday.
Driving the No.20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone, Carpenter was 14th fastest and put in the third most laps of the 32 drivers taking to the 2.5-mile oval with a total of 122 laps. The plethora of revolutions allowed Carpenter and crew the chance to experiment with optimal baseline setups for Saturday’s “Pole Day” qualifying. His fastest speed came in the final hour of practice when he put up a fast lap of 220.797 mph.
Carpenter is preparing for his sixth Indianapolis 500-mile race and fifth with Vision Racing. Not to mention, Carpenter is also coming off his best ever month of May just last season when he started a career-best 10th at Indy, drove his first career IndyCar Series leader laps (3) and finished in a team and career-best fifth at the Brickyard.
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Teammate Hunter-Reay and driver of the team’s No.21 Honda powered Dallara did not fare as well as a mid-afternoon mishap in turn two put him into the wall. Hunter-Reay was cleared by the medical staff, but his car was not and neither appeared on track for the remainder of the day.
However, before the incident Hunter-Reay turned 41 laps with a top speed of 214.929 mph while searching for a balanced set-up. Weather permitting, Hunter-Reay and the No.21 machine will be back on track on Fast Friday for practice.
Hunter-Reay is aiming for his second attempt at Indianapolis this year and hoping to build on his performance last year that earned him Rookie of the Year honors. In the 2008 race, driving for Rahal-Letterman Racing, Hunter-Reay started 20th and drove all the way up to finish just behind his now teammate Carpenter, in the sixth spot.
IndyCar Series and “Fast Friday” action will resume tomorrow from noon to 6 p.m. for open practice before the first 11 qualifiers are set on Saturday. In addition, the team will also be kicking off its second season of the Vision Racing Wellness Tour.
The Vision Racing Wellness Tour will be located in the infield at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, under the grandstands next to the famous Pagoda in GP garage No.35.
Both Carpenter and Hunter-Reay will be on site to get tested at the Wellness Tour on Friday, May 8th at 9:30 am. Vision Racing is inviting Media to join the drivers and accept their challenge by getting tested as well.
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