Saturday Notebook from Indy

Kevin Savoree, Kim Green and Michael Andretti receive their Baby Borg as team owners of last year's winning car driven by now NASCAR driver Dario Franchitti

Gail Miller/AutoRacing1

USAC awarded Roger Penske their highest award, the Roger McCluskey Award of Excellence, before the driver's meeting today. Penske made everyone laugh when he said "Emmo's [Fittipaldi] is driving the pace car. I just hope he turns in the pits," insinuating that Emmo may miss being out there so much he might not want to turn in when the green flag is ready to drop………During the driver's meeting Brian Barnhart told the drivers he expects them to keep pace with the pace car and to exit the 4th turn in rows of three at between 105 and 110 mph. The cars will take the green the third time by on Sunday……Andretti Green team owners Kevin Savoree, Kim Green and Michael Andretti received their Baby Borg-Warner Trophy for winning last year's Indy 500 with Dario Franchitti…….. Jon Brownson, who lost control and crashed on the opening lap of today's Indy Lights race will be 55 on October 8th. 55? What is he doing in Indy Lights? At that age how can the IRL view him as a development driver when he's older than dirt for an open wheel race car driver? Hopefully next year the Atlantic Series will be integrated into the IRL. The level of driver talent in that series is superior……Dillon Battistini recorded his second career victory. He also won the season-opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He is the fifth pole sitter to win the Firestone Freedom 100. Mark Cipolloni reporting from Indy