Oak Park Journal Sports Page

Danica Patrick has won races in the open wheel theater before..
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Dan Peters

Kanaan gives Danica some advice even after a terrible weekend at the Brickyard
by Dan Peters

Tony Kanaan exchanged hugs and handshakes with his whole Andretti Autosport team when Bump Day ended…. And he is in the show. Bring on next Sunday.

Last season, Kanaan finished sixth in the standings, a distant 230 points back of Dario Franchitti, and didn't record a win last season. It’s not like Kanaan has been bad at Indy either. Despite not reaching Victory Lane, he's led in seven of his eight Indianapolis 500s. But also has crashed the past two races. Just some bad luck, just like this weekend.

Green cars used to be taboo at Indy and most drivers would avoid the color at all costs.. Maybe a color change would do him good.

On Danica and her outburst after her sub par qualifying effort.
Kanaan said that he talked to Patrick and she realized that what she said Saturday was wrong.

“She definitely needs to change her attitude. Not against the public or the fans,” Kanaan said. “In herself. She’s not happy with herself right now. And I can understand that. I can relate to that because I’ve been there. I had a terrible year last year.”
“I think my best advice to her, which I told her last night, is you’ve got to learn from the tough times,” Kanaan said. “The same guys that she finished fifth in the championship last year and won her first race, they’re still there. Those are the same people. In racing, besides having a good setup and a good car, I believe that your attitude counts a lot.

“The best advice I said to her was, ‘Look, start having fun again.’ When you wake up in the morning in your bus and you can’t wait to go to the racetrack and see your guys, it’s the best feeling. But when you wake up in the morning and say God, I’ve got to drive a race car again, that’s not good.”

Maybe Tony should talk to Marco as well. He said his car was “pathetic” or maybe do as Helio and Dario did this weekend. Seek divine intervention. It worked for them.

“I was joking with Dario. I saw Jesus three times out there. Dario said, Well, I spoke with him many times”. Said Castroneves in a post qualifying press conference.

Sarah Fisher is looking for a win...........
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Dan Peters

Sarah Fisher, made her way into the field of 33 starting positions for the Indianapolis 500 early this afternoon. Fisher clocked her fastest lap of the month during her qualifying session, with a speed of 224.735 mph in her No. 67 Dollar General machine. Fisher will roll from Row 10 in the 29th starting position on race day, in between Andretti Autosport's John Andretti and AJ Foyt Racing's Vitor Meira, after posting a four-lap average of 224.434 mph, the fastest of all female qualifiers, and the 17th fastest time in the field, in her first and only qualifying attempt of the weekend. The 29-year old Fisher will be one of four females starting in the 500-mile race next Sunday. Danica Patrick, Ana Beatriz, and Simona De Silvestro will be joining her on the starting grid.

Jay Howard ready for a run...
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Dan Peters

Jay Howard, teammate to Fisher and driver of the No. 66 Service Central SFR entry, ran his quickest lap of the month, with a speed of 225.956 mph, which put him as the fastest of all cars on track today, before his second attempt to qualify for his first Indianapolis 500. The 29-year old Howard completed a qualifying attempt at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for the 500-mile race this afternoon, with a four-lap average of 223.824, which in the hustle to get the car back in the field was a surprise to SFR with the consistent month long speed of the No. 66 car topping the team's effort throughout the month, but was later bumped from the starting field. In Howard's last attempt to defend his qualification time for the field, he posted a time of just over 223 mph, but was not quick enough to bump himself back into the 33rd starting position.

Jay Howard: "A lot of people have asked the question whose decision was it to go on the last run and was it a mistake; the answer is that we will never know, and I, as well as the team, believed that we could get the car in the show with no problem. Obviously, we were mistaken, but we couldn't sit by and let Tracy go out because he would have for sure been faster than us. I'm really disappointed especially for Service Central, but we all did our best. As long as we learn from our experiences we can move forward. I'm looking forward to being back in the Service Central car at Texas in just a couple of weeks."

Tony Kanaan looking good and ready for the 500.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo by Dan Peters

Tony Kanaan finally talks to the media after a trying two days at Indianapolis


Kanaan Qualified for the Indianapolis 500 on Bump Day in the 32nd Spot with a speed of 224.072 mph

"This is quite a life. Today was very stressful for the whole 7-Eleven team, but it is what it is. Yesterday we went for the pole, but today, we have no idea what happened (with the accident this morning) because I wasn't even up to speed yet. But, I know this - I know I can pass cars, so I think next Sunday is going to be a lot of fun."

"I spent my first eight years here starting from inside the first two rows and now I get to see what it's like starting in the last one. I'm going to enjoy the "Last Row Party" and move forward."