Milwaukee Post Qualifying News Tidbits

UPDATE This is revised after IndyCar reversed its decision to disallow Sam Schmidt's Indy Lights team qualifying times. But also see rumors page.

06/18/11
– Down, but not out, take 1 – Ed Carpenter declared that Sarah Fisher Racing was not out of it yet as he walked back to his hauler after qualification. The team has been at or near the bottom of the speed chart since they unloaded, and qualified dead last of those who finished qualification.

Simona's Pork Chop car is examined by crew

– Simona de Silvestro hit the Turn 4 wall during qualification, and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Simona’s condition is unknown at this time. Her car, “Porkchop", was badly injured as well, but the team was seen putting it back together in the paddock. AR1 was told by team officials that the team does indeed have a second car, but it is unclear whether the car is in Milwaukee this weekend, or if it was in condition to run. Her team had a brand new car at Indy, but was destroyed in a spectacular crash that left Simona with burns that are still healing.

– Fire drill in Milwaukee! Indy Lights cars 7 (Esteban Guerrieri) and 11 (Josef Newgarden) – both are part of the 4-car Sam Schmidt Motorsports livery — failed initial post-qualification inspection, and were initially sent to the rear of the field for Sunday’s race. However, upon further review Indy Lights officials reversed their decision and the Schmidt cars will start 1-2. Uh, never mind…

– The second scariest crash at Indy in May belonged to Jorge Goncalvez in Indy Lights. The impact was so severe that the engine block was broken, the camera tower at the top of the roll hoop was eaten away by the pavement, and the engine’s ECU was on the ground (among other notable damage). Car owners Belardi Auto Racing told AutoRacing1 that the car was a total write-off (not surprising) and cost $250,000 to replace. Or, about the same amount as a network TV commercial, as the car’s owners will point out. Gustavo will start fourth in tomorrow’s race.

– So you have a kid who wants to be a race car driver? Estimated cost to get him or her rides through the day they move into IndyCar racing is around $2 million, from karts through Indy Lights. Then, of course, it would get expensive after that. Tim Wohlford reporting from Milwaukee