Maybe it’s a sign of his local celebrity that Butler University mascot Butler Blue II weighed in at 58.7 pounds on the IZOD IndyCar Series' technical inspection scale.

“Blue” and mascot in training Butler Blue III (“Trip”) visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before Day 4 of practice for the Indianapolis 500.

They posed for photos, but a strict “no paw print” policy was in effect.

IZOD IndyCar Series team owner/driver Ed Carpenter, a 2003 Butler University graduate, welcomed the canines to his garage. Blue has been a visitor to Carpenter’s the past three years in hopes of bringing good luck to the driver.

“Everyone gets a kick out them coming all the time,” said Carpenter, who gave Ed Carpenter Racing dog-size shirts to his visitors. “It’s just fun to be part of the Butler family and have a connection with Blue II and now Blue III. Hopefully, I can get some speed out of their visit today.”

Carpenter also played host to the members of Megadeath, who were in town to play the Murat Theater later in the day.

Racing to Recovery Gala to honor Rutherford, Holmatro Safety Team

Three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Johnny Rutherford and the Holmatro Safety Team will be honored at the 13th Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation’s Racing to Recovery Gala on May 16 at the new Dallara Automobili facility in Speedway, Ind.

Rutherford will receive the Legendary Driver Award, while the Holmatro Safety Team with be awarded the Silent Hero award for their skill and efficiency providing trackside support at every INDYCAR event.

“To be part of this year’s Racing to Recovery Gala, an event that benefits so many people, is a great honor,” said Rutherford, driver of the Safety Car for each INDYCAR event. “The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is doing so much to help people with spinal cord injury and paralysis. To be honored by the Foundation for my accomplishments in motorsports is truly something I’m proud of.”

Guests will have the opportunity to mingle with Indianapolis 500 drivers past and present and the event will feature silent and live auctions to raise funds to support medical research and rehabilitation for those living with paralysis.

For ticket information, contact events@samschmidt.org or call 317-236-9999.

NBC Sports Network live with time trials

Pole Day qualifying will be live on NBC Sports Network from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. (ET).
Bump Day qualifying also will be live on NBC Sports Network from noon-6:30 p.m. (ET). Streaming video of driver news conferences both days will be on www.indycar.com.

Of note

Pleepleus The Monkey, from the HDNet television show "Drinking Made Easy," was the honorary starter. A segment for an episode of the show that will air in October was being filmed at the racetrack. Show co-hosts Zane Lamprey and Steve McKenna also were at the Speedway for the segment. … Indianapolis micro-brewery Flat 12 Bierwerks has teamed up with Andretti Autosport's James Hinchcliffe, driver of the No. 27 Team GoDaddy.com car, to brew a special beer for the Month of May in honor of the Canadian.