Unser’s Formula at Indy: Cloudy, Cool and Dry Equals Speed

INDIANAPOLIS —  The last thing Al Unser Jr. wants to see when he wakes up this morning is sunshine.

Unser, who has been the fastest driver at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this month, still has to qualify for the 500-mile race, and he wants a day like defending champion Emerson Fittipaldi and 14 others had when they qualified late last Sunday afternoon: about 50 degrees, overcast and windless.

Fittipaldi posted a record 225.301-m.p.h. qualifying speed, well within reach of Unser--but not if the day is warm or windy or if the 2.5-mile asphalt rectangular oval is bathed in sunshine. Warm weather makes the track slippery so that tires can’t get the grip needed for record speeds through the 90-degree corners, and wind makes it too dangerous to try.

Unser ran a practice lap of 228.502 m.p.h. a week ago Friday on a day perfect for speed, but when qualifying ended at 6 p.m. last Sunday, his Lola-Chevy and 16 other cars were still in line awaiting their turn. All will get a chance today--or if the day is washed out, on Sunday--to try for the pole and the 33-car starting field.

While the crews of the 15 qualified cars have worked all week on their race-day setups, Unser has waited impatiently for his qualifying effort.

Speedway officials, although they aren’t saying so publicly, would rather see Unser’s Valvoline-sponsored car owned by Rick Galles on the pole than the Marlboro Penske of Fittipaldi. With mounting criticism of tobacco and alcohol sponsorships in motor racing, an oil company would be more acceptable in the spotlight of the Indianapolis 500 pole than a tobacco product.

Also not yet qualified--and with potential front-row speeds--are Arie Luyendyk, who ran 224.579 m.p.h. in practice a week ago; and 1985 winner Danny Sullivan, who has twice sat in the front row for the 500. Sullivan’s best speed this year has been 223.686 m.p.h. On the front row with Fittipaldi at the moment are three-time winner Rick Mears, at 224.215 m.p.h., and 1986 winner Bobby Rahal, at 222.694 m.p.h.

Others who will be in line when time trials resume include four-time champion A. J. Foyt, 1983 winner Tom Sneva, Formula One veteran Eddie Cheever and former Indy 500 pole-sitter Pancho Carter. All have practiced at better than 218 m.p.h.

After the 33-car field is filled, cars and drivers of unqualified cars may get in the field by posting a speed faster than a qualified car. Scott Goodyear, a rookie from Canada, has the slowest car on the provisional grid at 213.622 m.p.h.

Bernard Jourdain, one of those not yet qualified, hit the wall twice Friday, damaging both of his Andale Lolas. He nicked the wall in Turn 1 in his backup car and then hit it hard in Turn 4 only three minutes before the track closed. He expects to try to qualify in the backup car.

Rain kept drivers from practicing Tuesday and Wednesday, and gusts of 40 m.p.h. Thursday made conditions too perilous to try for more speed. Friday the sun came out and the drivers made the most of it, as 41 took laps.

“Wind makes the cars unpredictable,” said Dominic Dobson, whose Lola is already qualified. “If you are not careful, you end up ‘chasing your setup’ (adjusting the car for conditions that can quickly change), and it’s especially dangerous on the turns when the wind hits you from the side.”

More rain is predicted today, but with just enough clearing to permit an hour or two of qualifying.