Despite having just six hours of qualifying left in which to make the Indianapolis 500 field after missing out on the third scheduled day of timed running, neither Max Papis or Mario Dominguez appeared too concerned about having to sit out the blue riband event next weekend.
The infamous Bump Day is all that stands between the open-wheel veterans and a grandstand view of the 500 on 25 May after accidents claimed both before qualifying even began on Saturday but, even though both are running with relatively inexperienced outfits at Indianapolis, Papis and Dominguez remain convinced that they can displace some slower runners and find a berth.
Papis' Rubicon race team, which is being aided by Sam Schmidt Motorsports this month, worked feverishly into Saturday night in order to repair the Italian's #44 Dallara, securing vital replacement parts from several sources in the garage area, including the chassis manufacturer and a generous Vision Racing.
"[The car] will be back together today, but getting it back on track wouldn't be the safest thing for Max or anybody," co-owner Jim Freudenberg admitted, "We'll work until it is done tonight, and we'll be back on the track tomorrow.
"Sam Schmidt Motorsports had a lot of spare parts. [Team manager] Chris [Griffis] was scrambling through the garage to get parts, but Dallara and the League have helped us out, so we're just trying to get it back together. This is the good thing that comes from the bad part of racing - even people you are trying to beat are trying to give you a fair shot. To me, that doesn't happen in many places. It is the positive thing about this sport.
"Most of us have known each other for many years so, when you don't burn bridges and you make friends, you'll be able to count on each other. We'd do the same for other teams if they were in this position."
The Series' senior medical director, Dr Mike Olinger, said that Papis has been checked and released at the Clarian Emergency Medical Centre and will be cleared to drive on Bump Day.
![Max Papis - Rubicon Racing [pic credit: IRL/Haines]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/436618.jpg)
