The eyes of the sports world were on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday as Bump Day for the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 proved to be one of the most dramatic in years.
SPEEDWAY, Ind. – The eyes of the sports world were on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday as Bump Day for the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 proved to be one of the most dramatic in years. Highlighting a day filled with tension and rain was the fact Danica Patrick, the event’s 2005 rookie of the year and a PEAK Performance athlete, was not in the field of 33. Patrick’s speeds throughout May were fast but her No. 7 Honda Dallara was inexplicably slow Saturday where she was not only unable to compete for the PEAK Performance Pole Award, she failed to make the top 24. While confidence was high the only female to ever win an IZOD IndyCar Series race would make the field on Bump Day, inclement weather throughout the day prevented her from getting the track time she needed. Plus, an issue in tech inspection sent her to the back of the line as well. But all ended well. With approximately an hour left in final qualifying, the Illinois native put together a four-lap average of 224.861 mph to earn the 26th starting position in next Sunday’s milestone race. “
“I feel like I need a drink,” Patrick said to the assembled media after her successful run. “That’s really how I feel. I’m mad. I’m mad because I really thought we had a fast car. I really thought when we started out that we had a fast car that was fast enough to be in the top nine, even. Friday came and that kind of went away a little bit, and then to have it go the way it did, I’m relieved. I’m relieved that I’m in the race. “I’m frustrated with some of the process that’s happened and some of the things that have happened. I’m excited for everyone that we can go to sleep tonight and know that we’re in the race. It’s a lot going on, but I’d say I’m between angry and happy. I’m on both ends of the spectrum.”
Patrick’s Andretti Autosport teammate Marco Andretti did not get into the field until the last possible moment at the day’s conclusion, but his success was bittersweet as it knocked out another of his father Michael’s drivers, Ryan Hunter Reay. Reay and Mike Conway, both drivers for Andretti and the winners of the last two Grand Prix of Long Beach were unable to qualify for The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
The 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series season continues with the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 on May 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where PEAK Performance Pole Award winner Alex Tagliani will lead the field of 33 to the green flag. The race will be telecast live in High Definition at Noon (ET) by ABC. The race will air live on the IMS Radio Network, SiriusXM channel 94 and IndyCar.com. For more information on the event and for tickets, visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the Web at IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com.
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About PEAK/Old World Industries:PEAK® Performance Products are marketed and distributed by Old World Industries, which is among the largest privately held companies competing in the automotive aftermarket.
The Northbrook, Illinois based company enjoys a presence in the automotive product markets, energy exploration, and chemical manufacturing in more than 50 countries worldwide. Old World’s Product offering includes PEAK® Antifreeze; PEAK® Windshield Wash and Wiper Blades; PEAK® Performance Motor Oil; a full line of PEAK® Electronics; HERCULINER® Truck Bed Liner Kits; and SIERRA®, the safer antifreeze. For more information, please visit www.peakauto.com.
