Luyendyk hopeful Indy speed record will fall

An early morning rain rinsed the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval from the tire rubber built up by six IZOD IndyCar Series drivers who logged 3,802 miles over two days of a Firestone Racing tire test.

"We'll be in good shape when it comes May next year," reigning Indianapolis 500 Mile Race champion Tony Kanaan said after piling up 258 laps (more than the race distance) under sweltering sunshine.

Kanaan, three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti (Target Chip Ganassi Racing), Will Power (Team Penske), Marco Andretti (Andretti Autosport), Simon Pagenaud (Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports) and Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne Racing) utilized numerous tire compounds and specifications on the 2.5-mile oval in short runs and full fuel stints.

Firestone Racing's objectives were twofold: to develop a 2014 superspeedway tire and lay a foundation for the 2015 introduction of aerodynamic bodywork alternatives and the prospect of challenging the IMS track record in 2016 (the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race).

“Certainly we’re trying to lay a good foundation for being able to run laps like that for the future, and it’s going to involve a lot of work between ourselves and INDYCAR to make sure we understand the targets and that we’re working to achieve the same goals together,” Firestone Racing chief engineer Dale Harrigle said.

Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Co., the parent of INDYCAR, and INDYCAR president of competition and operations Derrick Walker announced in May the intent to see Luyendyk’s four-lap (236.986 mph) and one-lap (237.498 mph) qualification records surpassed.

Andretti, the 2006 Indy 500 runner-up and Chase Rookie of the Year, is looking forward to the challenge.

“Bring it on, man,” he said. “I’m always for that, for sure. I think for four laps in qualifying it would be fine. Ten miles an hour is easier said than done once you get above the 230 (mph) range, but it’s average 10 miles an hour, not just 10 miles an hour, so you need to be like 15 to 20 miles an hour quicker, so that makes a heck of a difference, but that’s why they pay us the big bucks.”

Luyendyk, a two-time 500 Mile Race winner and currently an IZOD IndyCar Series driver steward, welcomes the pursuit of the speed record.

"I am hopeful INDYCAR will succeed in getting Indy cars to go fast enough to break my 1996 qualifying record," tweeted Luyendyk, whose car was on Firestone tires.