Sunday Notebook from Indy

The gates opened this morning at 6:00 AM and the cars lined up to enter the infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to grab their infield parking spot inside the famous 2.5-mile track. There isn't the rush to get into the track at 6:00 AM like there was in years gone by because most of the seating today is reserved seating so the rush to get in at 6:00 AM just isn't what it used to be…………The weather this morning here in Indy is beautiful. Not a cloud in the sky, cool and dry with temperatures headed toward 72 degrees at race time (1:11 PM ET) – a perfect day for the race after a month of damp wet weather…….we asked KV Racing Technology co-owner Jimmy Vasser and one of his drivers Oriol Servia how do you rate your chances for the race? "None of the transition teams have a chance," was the answer. Will Power, a former Champ Car rookie of the year, acknowledges drivers' lack of experience on ovals is just one disadvantage. "My team engineer says the IRL teams have a five-year, $50 million lead on us in the development of the Dallara cars, especially on the ovals. We're not going to be able to overcome that in a few races or even one season," the Australian driver said. "But we're making gains every time we go on the track." The IRL regulars have such an advantage on ovals because of all the years of development they have had with making their cars go faster on the ovals. In fact, on the ovals the transition teams won't have a chance until the new car comes out in 2010 and everyone is on a level playing field……..The special pullout section for today's race in the Indy Star newspaper is titled "Danica's World" which pretty much sums up the only thing that really matters in IndyCar Racing today. If she wins today's race it will be the biggest boost to open wheel racing since popular Mario Andretti won the 500 in 1969 with Andy Granatelli and STP. Mark Cipolloni reporting from Indy