MAY 9
We opened the month with a conservative setup and we weren't looking for a big
lap time, but I found what I wanted in a dozen laps even though we only ran
217 (miles per hour). My speed doesn't look as good as Dan's (Wheldon) but I
think we're in the ballpark.
MAY 10
Today was much more serious as we ran 46 laps and really made some progress.
I ran 219 just before we stopped for the day and, even though Toyota was 1-2
with Helio (Castroneves) and Scott (Dixon), I think Honda has something up its
sleeve.
MAY 11
Today was a lot like yesterday in that we struggled a little bit in the morning
and then found ourselves late in the afternoon with a lap of 220. But I feel
more confident and I think we're on the right track.
MAY 12
We jumped to the top of the speed chart today with two laps over 222 but I got
a great tow from Bruno (Junqueira) and then my teammate, Bryan Herta. I wish
I could have done it by myself but it's not the reality. Still, it's only Wednesday
and we do have a good car and we're gaining day by day.
MAY 13
It rained all morning so we didn't get on the track until 3 o'clock. The temperature
has changed quite a bit; it's cooler, but we still managed 220 in only 19 laps.
Indy is always changing and you're always chasing the track, so it's quite a
challenge.
MAY 14
On the most important practice day of the month we never got out of Gasoline
Alley because it rained out all but about five minutes. I think we've got a
good shot because Honda has given us great horsepower in this new 3-liter engine.
I might be able to run 222.6 to 222.8 and if somebody can run 225, well, then
I may as well try to put my car in the field and go congratulate them. But I
think the pole speed is going be in the 222 range and I think we've got a good
shot -- just like all the Honda guys.
MAY 15
It was one of those crazy, unpredictable Pole Days at Indianapolis. We all got
a late start because the track hadn't dried properly. Things started out great
as we became the first and only car to run over 223 when practice finally got
going. When I finally went out to qualify, Buddy Rice had already posted his
222 average, so I knew what we had to beat. My first try only lasted two laps
and we waved off after 221 and 220 because we knew we had more. We changed the
chassis, and about an hour later, I was back out again. We made the right changes
and we went faster, but it just wasn't fast enough and we settled for 221.200
in our 7-Eleven Dallara/Honda. Our goal was to win the pole and the race and
we gave it our best shot. But the day was a success because Honda hogged the
first seven positions on the grid and Dan starts second, Dario third and I'm
fifth.
MAY 16
We started working on race setups and running together but then we all went
and cheered on Bryan during his qualifying attempt. He crashed Saturday but
showed his professionalism and hopped right back in his backup car and stuck
it in the show with the day's best speed. So now, all four of us are over the
first hurdle and ready for the next one. Race day is only two weeks away.
MAY 17-18
Two days away from the track doesn't mean sitting on the couch or playing video
games. On Monday, (May 17) we all traveled to Honda's manufacturing plant
in Marysville, Ohio to visit with the employees. Dario and I also rode our bikes
during the two-day break and plotted new ways to torment Wheldon. But it's always
good to take a breather from the daily pressures of Indy and I think it recharges
a driver's battery.
MAY 19
The beauty of having three teammates is that we can all run together on the
track and try different setups to see which ones are best in traffic. I ran
103 laps today, while Dan ran 85, Dario 76 and Bryan 62. Then, after we quit
running, Dario went on ESPN's Sports Center to talk with Gil de Ferran and John
Kernan. It also happened to be his birthday so his teammates took the appropriate
measures and we plastered him with cream pies while he was on air. It doesn't
get much better.
MAY 20
We've had a lot of different weather this month -- windy, sunny, cloudy -- and
you can't be sure what Race Day conditions are going to be like, so it's imperative
to run at all times. And we have the advantage of four cars so we just continued
to gather information today. It was pretty hot and muggy out there and we felt
pretty comfortable.
MAY 21
Our momentum suffered a setback when the right rear suspension failed on Bryan's
car just as he was starting to turn into the third corner. He had no chance
to save it and it smacked the wall pretty hard but thankfully, he escaped injury.
The car was hurt pretty bad but it will be ready for Carb Day [May 27].
MAY 22
You never feel like you're completely satisfied, but I ran 218 again today in
my backup car and I think we're ready for the race. It's been a stressful 10
days for everybody, but we've gathered a lot of information and now it's time
to sit down and analyze it.
MAY 23-25
I flew to my home in Miami and I've got to say it's a nice change of pace. I
love the ocean and being with my wife, plus I didn't have to do anything but
relax.
MAY 26
Got back to Indy in time to ambush Bryan (Herta) while he was doing a radio
talk show. He saw me and immediately quit talking but offered little resistance
as I creamed him in the face with a pie. I'm really starting to like the sound
it makes when it splats on somebody's head.
MAY 27
Carburetion Day always consists of running a few laps to make sure everything
is working properly and today was a good sign of things to come. No leaks, no
failures and no problem running quickly with a full tank of fuel. I can't wait
for the race to start, but we've still got three more days.
MAY 28
Had a sponsor dinner with the 7-11 and Klein Tools folks.
MAY 29
We saluted Gil (de Ferran) at the public driver's meeting and then talked about
taking care of each other on Sunday in the private driver's meeting. Daniele
and I rode in the parade and that's always fun. It's amazing how many people
show up and Indianapolis fans always make you feel special.
MAY 30
My third Indy 500 was long day that was a lot of fun and also a little disappointing,
but real good overall for Andretti Green Racing and Honda as I finished second,
Dan was third and Bryan fourth. I managed to lead 28 laps and I had a good car
but not as good as Buddy's [race winner Buddy Rice]. He was much stronger today,
and I don't think I had the car to pass him, even if we'd been able to run those
last 20 laps under green. I don't think the result would have changed. Not always
the best car and driver wins here, but today, I think Buddy deserves it. I did
my best and it was one spot short of what we wanted. But I never had as much
fun racing against a teammate as I did today with Dan. We kept going back and
forth for first, second and third and when you can get out on the track and
fight that hard against each other and still get out of the car and be able
to laugh about it, to me that's priceless. I mean, winning races and championships
is important, but this was also very special.
MAY 31
I opened my envelope Monday night at the victory banquet and my check read $659,240
but I told my wife it was only $65,240 because she doesn't need to know everything
about auto racing just yet.