by Lynne HunttingPATRICK DEMPSEY, this year's Indianapolis 500 Pace Car driver, is also an Indy Racing League team co-owner, with TONY GEORGE, President/CEO of IRL and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They co-own Vision Racing, which has four cars running in the 91st Indy 500.
TOMAS SCHECKTER/#2 Dallara qualified tenth on Pole Day, the day that the other ten qualifiers came from big multi-car teams - Team Penske, Andretti Green Racing and Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Dempsey said: “You can't help but love Tomas. He's a great driver. He's always full-out; he never lifts. Some days that's good, and some days that's not good.”
The other three Vision drivers qualified on the second day of Qualifying - ED CARPENTER/#20 Dallara - fourteenth; A.J. FOYT IV/#22 Dallara - eighteenth and DAVEY HAMILTON/#02 Dallara - twentieth. Hamilton is making his Indy 500 comeback following six years of recuperation and rehabilitation after a horrific IRL crash.
Dempsey said about his team's progress: “There are things we need to work on. Certainly, the aero package needs to be brought up to speed a little more. The growth of the team has been phenomenal, and we're getting there. And with a little luck, we can get results. And I think in time, we will. It's developing what he's done over the years; it didn't come overnight. It takes a lot to get to that place. I think as a new team, it's going to take us time to get to that place.”
Dempsey said: “I really enjoy Tony George. I think he's a great character. He's a lot of fun. Some people like him, and some people don't. But he's got a good heart. He's out there, he cares deeply about the sport, and certainly this is a family business that he's had to take responsibility for, and he's doing the best he can. And I love that and respect that.”
Dempsey is a big fan of IRL: “I think this is a great series. It deserves to grow. It's really hard to get out from under the shadow of the Nextel Cup. They've just swallowed everything up, understandably. It's great racing and there are some great people there. What the IRL has going for it is that there is a reliability with the drivers each year. CART has a big problem with like, who do you connect with over there other than Mr. Newman, who is a great character. A lot of times you don't even know who these people are. Here it's like you know who's coming in year in and year out, and I think that's the difference.”
Among the things Dempsey likes about team ownership is: “I get to hang out in the pits and watch the drivers. That's the best thing. You're in it, you're participating in the sport and helping when you can.”
