Kurt Busch off to fast start at Indy

Kurt Busch is with a top team, Andretti Autosport, but he has been a fast study for a taxicab driver. While a number of IndyCar drivers have won the Daytona 500, a taxicab driver has never come close to winning the Indy 500. Busch could be the first if things fall his way.

Kurt Busch is off to a good start in his quest to win the Indy 500.

With about 45 minutes left in practice on Thursday, Busch was fourth on the speed chart with a lap of 224.739 mph.

Former Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves was fastest at 226.098 mph, followed by Townsend Bell and Ryan Hunter-Reay.
Busch, who has one win this season on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit, is attempting to become the fourth driver to run the Indy-Charlotte double on Sunday, May 25.

Busch, who is driving for Andretti Autosport, plans to race in the Indy 500 on Sunday afternoon, and then fly to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 that night. Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and John Andretti are the other drivers who have competed in both races on the same day.

Busch will have a busy weekend. Indy 500 practice resumes Friday, while Sprint Cup practice gets underway at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Parker Kligerman will drive Busch’s Cup car for Stewart-Haas Racing on Friday.

On Saturday, Busch will participate in Indy 500 practice during the day, and then fly to Charlotte for Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star Race. Indy 500 qualifying is next week. Sporting News