INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Buddy Rice grabbed the lead after a flurry of early crashes and late pit stops and won a rain-shortened Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
Bruno Junqueira took the lead after a crash by rookie Marty Roth, but Junqueira had to come in for fuel, starting the final scramble for the lead. When Rice came in, Bryan Herta took the lead, then when Herta pitted, Adrian Fernandez went in front.
Fernandez then made his final pit stop and Rice regained the lead with 30 laps remaining. The rain then forced a yellow after 173 laps, and the race was stopped after 180 laps, giving Rice the victory.
wil.
Bruno Junqueira took the lead after a crash by rookie Marty Roth, but Junqueira had to come in for fuel, starting the final scramble for the lead. When Rice came in, Bryan Herta took the lead, then when Herta pitted, Adrian Fernandez went in front.
Fernandez then made his final pit stop and Rice regained the lead with 30 laps remaining. The rain then forced a yellow after 173 laps, and the race was stopped after 180 laps, giving Rice the victory.
wil.
Top 10 reasons why Letterman won Indy 500
By Jim Litke, Associated Press, 5/30/2004 20:34
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The top 10 reasons why David Letterman got into auto racing and wound up as the first celebrity co-owner to win the Indy 500:
No. 10. Johnny Carson was a tennis fan, and never considered buying part of a team.
No. 9 Paul Newman, who has partnered owner Carl Haas for years, kept hiring one Andretti after another to drive his cars.
No. 8 As a former weatherman, knew what the yellow blotches on the Doppler radar storm tracker meant and urged driver Buddy Rice into the lead just ahead of the rainstorm that ended the race after 180 laps.
No. 7 Jay Leno prefers motorcycles.
No. 6 As a native Hoosier, knew the words to ''Back Home in Indiana'' and was able to sing along with Jim Nabors' rendition.
No. 5 Since no one took him up on a suggestion to rename part of Interstate 465 in his honor, figured he would annex Victory Lane instead.
No. 4 When he takes the winning G-Force Honda racecar back home to show off, Connecticut State Police won't be able to catch him and hand over any more speeding tickets.
No. 3 Promised his mom the Borg Warner trophy to complete her collection of giant-sized silver serving dishes.
No. 2 Needed something to outshine ''Late Show'' bandleader and sidekick Paul Shaffer, who is Canadian, just in case Calgary wins the Stanley Cup.
No. 1 If 8-month-old son Harry runs out of diapers late at night, can make it down to the 7-11 before closing time.
wil.
By Jim Litke, Associated Press, 5/30/2004 20:34
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The top 10 reasons why David Letterman got into auto racing and wound up as the first celebrity co-owner to win the Indy 500:
No. 10. Johnny Carson was a tennis fan, and never considered buying part of a team.
No. 9 Paul Newman, who has partnered owner Carl Haas for years, kept hiring one Andretti after another to drive his cars.
No. 8 As a former weatherman, knew what the yellow blotches on the Doppler radar storm tracker meant and urged driver Buddy Rice into the lead just ahead of the rainstorm that ended the race after 180 laps.
No. 7 Jay Leno prefers motorcycles.
No. 6 As a native Hoosier, knew the words to ''Back Home in Indiana'' and was able to sing along with Jim Nabors' rendition.
No. 5 Since no one took him up on a suggestion to rename part of Interstate 465 in his honor, figured he would annex Victory Lane instead.
No. 4 When he takes the winning G-Force Honda racecar back home to show off, Connecticut State Police won't be able to catch him and hand over any more speeding tickets.
No. 3 Promised his mom the Borg Warner trophy to complete her collection of giant-sized silver serving dishes.
No. 2 Needed something to outshine ''Late Show'' bandleader and sidekick Paul Shaffer, who is Canadian, just in case Calgary wins the Stanley Cup.
No. 1 If 8-month-old son Harry runs out of diapers late at night, can make it down to the 7-11 before closing time.
wil.
