INDIANAPOLIS 500 QUALIFYING : Rain Slows, Can’t Stop Brayton and Luyendyk

Speeds were far below expectations, but after a rain-shortened first day of qualifying, the makeup of the front row for the Indianapolis 500 is about as anticipated--temporarily, at least.

The two Menard-powered Lolas, driven by Scott Brayton and Arie Luyendyk, were the fastest of 11 qualifiers Saturday and appear likely to be sitting on the front row together for the May 28 race. Only 16 cars made a qualifying attempt because of the late start; the remainder will get shots at the pole today.

Brayton and Luyendyk, who had been flirting with 235 m.p.h. during the week, finished their four-lap, 10-mile time trial at 231.604 and 231.031, respectively.

The one- and four-lap records set three years ago by Roberto Guerrero, which had been bettered numerous times in practice, both survived.

The fastest single lap Saturday was 231.983, Brayton’s third time around the 2 1/2-mile rectangular oval. Guerrero’s records are 232.618 for one lap and 232.482 for four.

“The records would have been nice,” Brayton said. “Everybody knows the speed was there to get the record, but the conditions weren’t there. We were as strong as they come today.

“It is going to be very difficult for anyone to best us.”

Brayton, 38, qualified for his 14th Indy 500, more than any other driver entered.

Luyendyk, whose practice lap of 234.913 Friday was the fastest in track history, blamed the heavy, damp air for the slower-than-expected speeds.

“The track was OK, but the air was really thick and there was no horsepower,” the 1993 winner said. “The thick, humid air takes it all away. My second lap (of 230.971), I was flat out and I didn’t get any boost.”

Michael Andretti, fastest of the non-Menards during practice, qualified his Lola-Ford Cosworth on the outside of the provisional front row at 229.294. Andretti barely made the 6 p.m. deadline. The gun sounded during his four-lap run.

“It was a really long day, but it was very, very important to get it done today.” Andretti said. “It makes for a long night if you don’t. I knew we didn’t have much chance for the pole, but feel we have a big shot at winning the race.”

Two rookies, Allesandro Zampedri of Italy and Gil de Ferran of Brazil, made the provisional field. Zampedri, who drives for Dale Coyne and former NFL star Walter Payton, was fastest at 225.753.

“I think I was more nervous than Allesandro,” Payton said. “But I’m feeling pretty good now. Allesandro has done well all year, and we’re the first guys to qualify with Firestone tires in a long time, so that’s a first for us.”

The last time a Firestone-shod car qualified was 1974, when Jan Opperman put a Vel’s Parnelli Jones car in the field at 176.186 m.p.h.

Heavy morning rains held the crowd to an estimated 125,000, with probably only about 70,000 still in the stands when Andretti left pit lane at 5:58 p.m.

Forecasts are for warm and windy weather today, making it unlikely that any of the remaining cars will challenge the front three.

Qualifying, which was scheduled to start at 11 a.m., did not get under way until 4:45 p.m.

Andre Ribeiro, one of the rookie Brazilian drivers, crashed his Reynard-Honda during practice. He suffered only bruises and is expected to drive his other car today.

Among those left in line were defending champion Al Unser Jr. and his Penske teammate, Emerson Fittipaldi; former winner Bobby Rahal, Robby Gordon, Jacques Villeneuve, Jimmy Vasser, Scott Pruett and Scott Goodyear.