Local drivers satisfied with progress at Indy

Monday, May 17, 1999 | 10:07 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Henderson resident Sam Schmidt was the eighth-fastest driver in practice Sunday for the 83rd Indianapolis 500 while Las Vegas resident Davey Hamilton continued his steady search for more speed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Schmidt's fastest lap of the day was 221.697 mph, eighth fastest of the 34 drivers who took to the track on the second day of practice. "We're happy we're still in the top 10," Schmidt said after a drop in speed from 224.394 mph Saturday. "We ran race setups. We didn't really work on a qualifying setup (Sunday). ... We ran many laps to get a feel for what it's like out there."

Schmidt drives the Unistar Auto Insurance/G-Force/Oldsmobile Aurora V8.

Hamilton was nearly 3 mph faster Sunday than on opening day Saturday in the Galles Racing Spinal Conquest/Dallara/Oldsmobile Aurora V8. Hamilton's fastest lap Sunday was 219.480 mph, 22nd fastest among the 34 drivers on the track during the second day of practice.

"We did not lose any speed with the car on all the changes that we have made," Hamilton said. "It's only Sunday and, right now, we expect to make small gains each day we are on the track."

Greg Ray turned the fastest lap of the second day of practice with a lap at 225.124 mph, followed by Arie Luyendyk at 224.674 mph, and Scott Goodyear at 222.750 mph.

Practice continues through Friday, with qualifications scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, final Carburetion Day practice on May 27 and the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 30.