VISION RACING PRACTICE & QUALIFYING REPORT - May 16, 2009
(Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Vision Racing driver Ryan Hunter-Reay provisionally qualified the team's No. 21T Dallara/Honda/Firestone machine for the 2009 Indianapolis 500 today with a four-lap qualifying average of 219.502 mph.
 
It was Hunter-Reay's only qualifying attempt of the day and it was good enough to hold on for the 30th position, the outside of row 10, which is where he could start his second Indianapolis 500 pending no changes after "Bump Day" qualifying on Sunday. Additional qualifying attempts made by competitors on Sunday could potentially bump Hunter-Reay's qualifying speed out of the field of 33, thus forcing him to re-qualify the No. 21T machine.
 
Just last season Hunter-Reay started 20th at Indy and ran an impressive race finishing behind current teammate, Ed Carpenter, in the sixth spot and earning Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors.
 
Hunter-Reay also drove 18 laps of practice today with a best lap of 219.379 mph.
 
Teammate Ed Carpenter and his No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone machine did not practice today. Carpenter qualified the No. 20 Menards special last Sunday, May 10th in the 17th position, middle of row six, with a four-lap qualifying average of 222.780 mph.
 
IndyCar Series practice and qualifying for the 2009 Indianapolis 500 will resume Sunday for "Bump Day" activities. Practice begins at 10:15 a.m. with qualifying and practice occurring at noon. Live TV coverage on VERSUS begins at noon (ET).
 
The Indianapolis 500 will air live on Sunday, May 24 at noon ET on ABC, as well as IMS Radio Network, XM IndyCar Series Racing Channel 145, XM Sports Nation Channel 144 and on the web at www.IndyCar.com.
 
Practice & Qualifying Results and Quotes: (May 16, 2009)
 
Ryan Hunter-Reay - No. 21T Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone
Top Speed in Practice Today: 219.379 mph
Top Time in Practice Today: 41.0248
Number of Laps in Practice Today: 18
Overall Rank in Practice Today: 28th
Four Lap Qualifying Average: 219.502 mph
Qualifying Position: 30th (outside of row 10)
Top Speed for Month: 221.683 mph (May 10 in No. 21)
Top Time for Month: 40.5985 (May 10 in No. 21)
Number of Laps in Practice for Month: 306 (No. 21 & No. 21T)
 
On qualifying:
"These Vision guys have worked really hard but the car is still slow. I feel really bad about that but we are two miles an hour from where we should be. I really appreciate this opportunity and the fact that we are fifth in the Championship points right now and that's great but we need to get a handle on things pretty quick to keep ourselves in the hunt. It's tough because I know how it should be for us and its not and that's frustrating. We are qualified for the Indianapolis 500 but it is hard to be happy about where we are starting. The key now is to work on race set-up and hopefully figure out what is holding us back."
 
Ed Carpenter - No. 20 Menards/Vision Racing Dallara/Honda/Firestone
Top Speed in Practice Today: N/A
Top Time in Practice Today: N/A
Number of Laps in Practice Today: N/A
Overall Rank in Practice Today: N/A
Four Lap Qualifying Average: 222.780 mph
Qualifying Position: 17th (middle of row 6)
Top Speed for Month: 223.512 mph (May 10)
Top Time for Month: 40.2663 (May 10)
Number of Laps in Practice for Month: 380 (+14 in No. 21T)
 
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