IRL gives no weight to Gordon’s worry
Patrick’s lighter frame ‘no issue at all’ to officials
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INDIANAPOLIS - The Indy Racing League isn’t giving any weight to the complaints about Danica Patrick’s slight frame.
One day after NASCAR’s Robby Gordon said he would not race against the petite Patrick because he believes she has a weight advantage at a mere 100 pounds, IRL officials said they were not considering changing their rules to level the playing field.
“It’s no issue at all, as it pertains to the Indianapolis 500 and oval-track racing,” league spokesman John Griffin said.
The IRL does not consider the weight of the driver in its race specifications. While cars must weigh a minimum of 1,525 pounds before the fuel and driver are added, drivers are not weighed.
Less weight could give Patrick two advantages — quicker speeds and less fuel consumption, which could be a key in a 500-mile race.
Patrick qualified fourth, consistently turned some of the fastest laps of the month and ran low on gas at the end of the race, giving way to winner Dan Wheldon. The Englishman is listed at 157 pounds.
Gordon suggested Saturday that Patrick’s small frame gave her a significant edge over someone like himself, who weighs nearly 200 pounds. After Patrick’s impressive run Sunday, Gordon reiterated the point.
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Gordon wasn’t the only driver making that point this month. Indy polesitter Tony Kanaan said on the first day of qualifications that he thought Patrick’s weight could give her an advantage, but he also showed a sense of humor about it.
Asked if he could lose 45 pounds by not eating, Kanaan responded: “I’ve stopped eating a lot, but I think maybe I should chop off half of my nose. That might be weighing 100 pounds.”
Foyt trouble
A.J. Foyt’s team ran into early problems for the
third straight year at Indianapolis, and both of the four-time winner’s drivers were out of the race early.
Before the green flag flew, A.J. Foyt IV, Foyt’s grandson, was already struggling with his earplugs. He had the same problem two years ago as a rookie before hitting the wall early in last year’s race.
Larry Foyt, son of the team owner, crashed after completing just 15 laps when he spun in the first turn and hit the outside wall. Track officials said he was had a chip fracture in his lower spine and would be kept overnight for further evaluation.
A.J. Foyt IV’s day also ended early, when he dropped down and touched wheels with Bruno Junqueira and sent Junqueira into the wall with debris scattered across the track. Foyt IV had completed 72 laps and was five laps behind the race leaders when the accident occurred. He got back on the track and finished 12 more laps before dropping out.
Walking back to garage after the crash, Foyt said: “I don’t know what happened — if I cut in too early or what.”
Track officials announced Junqueira, who drives full-time on the Champ Car circuit, had a concussion and broke two bones in his back. He was to undergo surgery Monday in Indianapolis but was stable and in fair condition. There was no immediate word about how much time he could miss for the Newman-Haas team.
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