Indy 500: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing second day qualifying notes

RAIN HITS INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY SUNDAY AS QUALIFYING RUNS ARE POSTPONED UNTIL SATURDAY, MAY 17

Dreyer & Reinbold Team Plans Qualifying, Race Practice Starting Wednesday

INDIANAPOLIS - It was another damp and cool day Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Unfortunately, constant rain washed out the second day of qualifications after the first eleven starting positions were set on Saturday for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race scheduled on May 25.

The three Dreyer & Reinbold Racing drivers - Buddy Rice, Townsend Bell and Milka Duno - kept busy despite the lack of on-track activities. The drivers worked with the engineering staff on preparations for this week's practice sessions (Wednesday through Friday) and the next qualifying attempts, round three on Saturday and round four on Sunday.

The DRR crew members continued to prepare the three DRR machines, the No, 15 Dreyer & Reinbold Honda Dallara (Rice), the No. 99 William Rast Honda Dallara (Bell) and the No. 23 CITGO Honda Dallara (Duno), for the upcoming practice runs beginning Wednesday at noon.

The Speedway oval will be silent on Monday and Tuesday with several charities events planned as such as the popular Racing to Recovery Benefit Gala hosted by Sam Schmidt and the Benevolent Fund of Motorsports Golf Tourney on the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course inside and near the famed 2.5-mile legendary track.

BUDDY RICE (No. 15 Dreyer & Reinbold Honda Dallara): "We felt we had a good setup for qualifying, especially after Wednes- day's practice. But we were a little confused on Friday because the car didn't continue to improve. Then it happened again on Saturday morning when the conditions were nearly perfect. So we found out that the clutch was going out and it caused the engine to slow. So, we were anxious to get out today. Now, we'll work on getting the car set in race trim. I still believe I have a very good qualifying car. But it is time to work on race setup. We'll be able to get in the field on Saturday. We just wanted a shot at the top eleven and we didn't that chance on Saturday."

TOWNSEND BELL (No. 99 William Rast Honda Dallara): "We really wanted to get into the top eleven on Saturday. We knew we would be close. We tried to take a big step with the chassis to get more speed and it didn't work. We are going to work on several things in practice this week. We know we can get in the field this weekend. So we'll concentrate on the race setup in our upcoming practice runs. We need to keep our heads down and keep focused on the race. That's why we came here. I think the Dreyer & Reinbold organization is growing and developing a good platform. We have added some great sponsors this year like William Rast, EMU Australia and Herbalife to the program. Now we need to continue to improve this organization."

MILKA DUNO (No. 23 CITGO Honda Dallara): It is too bad we couldn't run today. We were faster on Saturday and the car is feeling much better for me each day we run. Working with Buddy (Rice) and Townsend (Bell) has been very good for me. Buddy has won the Indy 500 and he knows the path around here. Townsend is very fast too. So talking to them has been great. I feel so comfortable working with the Dreyer & Reinbold team this year. They have treated me very good. I look forward to getting back on the track on Wednesday."

-credit: drr