Indy notebook: Drivers running out of time to qualify

INDIANAPOLIS — Practice time has been scarce, and race experience has been just as rare for Phil Giebler, last year’s top Indy rookie,

Giebler’s only IndyCar race was at Indianapolis a year ago, when he started last and finished 29th. Still, that was two spots better than the only other rookie in the lineup, Milka Duno, and Giebler was voted rookie of the year. This year has been just as trying, if not more so.

“Basically, at about 5 o’clock last night, we finalized a deal to get us the engine and the stuff we needed,” Giebler said Friday. “Everybody stayed late last night and worked hard. I made sure the boys were fed.”

Giebler didn’t even have a ride until earlier this week, when a deal developed with American Dream Motorsports. With his lack of practice time, however, Giebler is a long shot to make the 33-car lineup in the final qualifying Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s been a long week and a pretty stressful day … trying to get things going,” he said. “It was kind of a do-or-die situation if we were going to get out there for qualifying and get this done.”

The 28-year-old Californian, who began racing go-karts at age 10, won his debut in the developmental Indy Lights series at Homestead, Fla., in 2004. He also has competed in the F3000 series and represented the United States in the A1 GP series.

He’s isn’t the only driver running out of time.

Veteran Stephan Gregoire, who has made seven previous Indy 500 starts, toured the Gasoline Alley garages Friday in hopes of landing a last-minute ride, even if it’s as a replacement for another driver who may be having problems finding speed.

“I want to make sure they know I’m around and available if need be,” said the 39-year-old Frenchman, who now lives in nearby Carmel, Ind. “These teams have their drivers for the whole year, so it’s very hard for them not to commit to them. All those guys (who) are rookie drivers … haven’t had much time to get used to the track, so you never know.”

Gregoire’s best finish at Indy was eighth in 2000. He was 29th two years ago and was injured in a crash during practice last year.

SCHWITZER WINNER: Speed alone doesn’t get a race car around the track.

A driver has to be able to steer the car, too, and that’s why a new variable-ratio, rack-and-pinion technology is the winner of this year’s Louis Schwitzer Award for racing innovation.

Bishop Steering Technology, whose North American headquarters is in Indianapolis, was cited Friday by the Indiana section of the Society of Automotive Engineers for improvements in maneuverability, more efficient entry and exit from the pits, and a reduction in driver fatigue through easier steering.

Andrew Heathershaw, one of the Bishop engineers who developed the technology, called it “steering with feeling.”

“The driver relies on this steering feel to judge how the tires and chassis are working to enable the driver to make appropriate steering inputs to control the vehicle,” he said.

The other engineers sharing the $10,000 award are Soungjin Wou and Nick Belonogoff from Bishop and Andrea Toso from chassis manufacturer Dallara.

The award named for automotive pioneer Louis Schwitzer has been presented each year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1967, when Andy Granatelli won for his STP turbine engine.

Others have included former Indy winners A.J. Foyt and Parnelli Jones for designing their own chassis. In recent years, the Schwitzer winners have included the designers of the SAFER barrier and the HANS head-and-neck support device. Last year’s winners were Delphi engineers Erskine Carter, Glen Gray, Andy Inman, Tim Kronenberg and Bruce Natvig, for an updated accident data recorder.

BIG APPLE TOUR: The 33 Indianapolis 500 starters will visit New York on Monday and pose in uniform for photos with the “charging bull” statue near Wall Street in Manhattan.

The 16-foot, 7,000-pound bronze bull has been a popular tourist attraction since it was first displayed two years after the 1987 stock market collapse.

The annual publicity tour following Indy qualifications will also include interviews and a media luncheon at the newly opened Sports Museum of America, which is billed as the nation’s only multimedia museum showcasing all sports.

LUG NUTS: Danica Patrick renewed her sponsorship contract with Swiss watchmaker Tissot. “When we decided to go ahead with Danica three years ago, I knew that with her background, the fighting spirit she has … that she would be on the top one day,” Tissot president Francois Thiebaud said Friday at a signing ceremony at the track. “She already was on the top in Japan last month, and I can tell you, it’s not finished.” … Drivers Milka Duno of Venezuela and rookie Mario Dominguez of Mexico took part in the Latino Swing Golf Classic at the Brickyard Crossing, an annual event to raise money for needy Latino families in Indiana. … Luczo Dragon Racing and driver Tomas Scheckter are partnering with a dozen athletes, including Sugar Ray Leonard, Donovan McNabb, Steve Nash and Serena and Venus Williams, in a charity fundraising drive. Last year, the team raised about $500,000 for charities supported by a different group of athletes.