Disappointing run for Lazier and Hemelgarn Team.

Buddy Lazier and his Hemelgarn/Coors Light team have their No. 91 Coors Light/TaeBo/Life Fitness/Delta Faucet/Chevrolet-powered Dallara in the field for the 86th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race but not with the speed they were hoping for. The 1996 Indy 500 winner will make his 10th start from the middle of Row 7 after posting the 20th fast time with a speed of 227.495 mph.

"No, we didn't hit the speed we wanted," a disappointed Lazier said. "I thought I could have had 229 mph, but I just don't know where the speed went. We were flat out. We knew we needed a 229 mph to feel comfortable, but we just don't know where the extra 2 mph went. It was a disappointing run, and it would be nice to start up front, but at the end of the day, it is the race we're focusing on. I have a great engineer and crew, and they will do whatever it takes to get the Coors Light car out in front on Race Day."

Lazier began his four-lap, 10-mile run with his first lap at 227.652 mph. His next three laps remained consistent, turning laps of 227.418, 227.412, and 227.500 mph, respectively. The total run took 2:38:2450 minutes.

Team owner Ron Hemelgarn, celebrating his 25th year at the famed Brickyard, feels confident that Lazier's speed will hold up and will remain solid in the field.

"Well, it's not where we wanted to be," Hemelgarn said. "We were off 2 mph where we thought but we're in the race and race day is when the payday comes so we'll take it. We're in the race and that is what it going to take."

Incidentally, Lazier's fastest lap of the month came on Fast Friday, May 10, when he posted a lap of 229.302 mph.

The 2000 Indy Racing League champions will take tomorrow off before beginning preparations for Race Day. Lazier will return to the track on Wednesday to begin simulating potential race conditions and setups for May 26th.

A total of 24 cars qualified today.