James Davison is hoping to have a little extra push in the 99th Indianapolis 500.
Davison and his team hosted a group of military veterans from Folds of Honor and their families for a garage tour May 23 before the group affixed their thumb prints to the ReplayXD logos on the rear wing of the No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda. Folds of Honor provides scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen heroes.
“It’s just a fantastic opportunity to be a true part of what the Indy 500 is in honoring and saluting the current military personnel and the veterans,” Davison said. “I’m just so pleased that the AE/ReplayXD and Dale Coyne Racing could find a way to make a unique salute.”
Davison, who will start 33rd in his second Indianapolis 500 after his teammate Tristan Vautier qualified his car while he was racing a sports car in Canada, is up for the challenge of starting in the back and knows he has a strong car after running 11th in the final Coors Light Carb Day practice May 22.
“It all comes down to race car,” he said. “If you have a good car, you’ll move forward. If you don’t, you won’t. I’ve done less mileage than I did last year and we need to hope we’ve nailed the setup. I ran 11th yesterday and was fourth twice in practice, so I know we can run with the top teams.”
Drivers meeting provides final instructions
Drivers participating in the Indy 500 received final instructions and awards in the public drivers’ meeting.
2014 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay and racing legend Mario Andretti, representing his son, Andretti Autosport owner Michael Andretti, each accepted a “Baby Borg” trophy from Brady Ericson, president and general manager of BorgWarner Emission Systems, for being the winning driver and car owner of the 98th Indianapolis 500.
The Baby Borg is a miniature replica of the Borg-Warner Trophy, which bears the bas-relief likeness, name and average speed of every Indianapolis 500 winner. Hunter-Reay and Andretti received winning driver and car owner’s ring from Ken Keltner of Herff Jones and Gordon Knapp, COO of Bridgestone Americas, respectively.
“It’s been a productive morning for me,” Andretti joked. “I’ve been wanting a Baby Borg, since I only got a plaque to honor my win, so I’m keeping this and the ring, too.”
Firestone also awarded its Legends of the Indianapolis 500 Award to Al Unser. A $20,000 donation will made in Unser’s name to the Unser Children’s Discovery Center in Unser’s hometown of Albuquerque, N.M.
Unser, who also was honored as part of Legend’s Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and addressed the 33-driver field, “Who wants to trade me? I don’t want the back row. I’ve been there.' ”
Deb Osza, general manager, American Dairy Association of Indiana presented the “Winners Drink Milk” plaque honoring Louis Meyer to Hunter-Reay for his victory.
Keltner presented special Indianapolis 500 starter’s ring by Herff Jones rings to all 33 drivers.
Brian Barnhart, Verizon IndyCar Series race director, concluded the drivers’ meeting by discussing race rules and guidelines with the drivers.
Dempsey to serve as honorary starter
Actor, race car driver/team owner and TAG Heuer Ambassador Patrick Dempsey will wave the green flag as honorary starter.
The Maine native knows his way around motorsports and has competed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- he drove on the road course last summer in a TUDOR United SportsCar Championship race. He also drove the pace car in 2007.
Of note
The No. 15 Steak 'n Shake Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing crew won the Firestone Pit Stop Performance Award and its $10,000 prize with a total pit lane time of 80.341 seconds during the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis. Driver Graham Rahal finished second in the race. ... Tristan Vautier was given a set of “good luck bricks” from a group from Indianapolis’ Gigi’s Playhouse, which offer educational and therapeutic programming at no cost to individuals with Down syndrome and their families. … Linda Vaughan, “The First Lady of Auto Racing,” was named as the recipient of the first honorary Jim Chapman Award for excellence in motorsports public relations.