Unser Jr. posts second-fastest practice time at Indianapolis

Tuesday, May 16, 2000 | 10:26 a.m.

Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. of Henderson was bumped from the day's fastest practice speed in the final minutes Monday in preparation for the 84th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Unser went 221.861 mph in the final minutes of "Happy Hour," only to be bettered by NASCAR Winston Cup and Indianapolis 500 veteran Robby Gordon's 223.120.

"It's really starting to get competitive, and this week has only just begun," said Unser, driver of the Galles ECR Racing Gforce/OldsmobileV8.

"We are right there with everyone at the moment, but we are still going with our game plan of making sure that we get into the show," he said. "The competition is going to be tough, and we need to be on the ball 100 percent."

Unser's fast lap Monday topped several teams representing the Las Vegas area.

Jimmy Kite, driving for car owner and part-time Las Vegan Ed Rachanaski, had the day's seventh fastest lap of 221.217 mph among the 42 cars on the track Monday.

"I want Jimmy to be in the top 10 each day, and that's what we accomplished today," Rachanaski said from Chicago after hearing about Kite's hot lap. "We have shown good speed in three days."

Las Vegas resident Jimmy Vasser returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for his first official practice laps after arriving shortly before noon Monday from Japan.

Vasser turned in nine laps, and had a fast lap of 220.146 in the Target/Chip Ganassi Racing Gforce/OldsmobileV8. At the time his lap was third-fastest, but he wound up 11th on the speed chart at the end of the day.

"Everything felt good," Vasser said afterward. "We accomplished what we wanted to, and will go for more speed (today)."

Vasser arrived with teammate and 1999 Championship Auto Racing Teams champion Juan Montoya, who got in 11 quick laps.

Las Vegas resident Davey Hamilton had the 23rd-fastest lap Monday at 218.171 in the Team Xtreme Gforce/OldsmobileV8.

Las Vegas resident Richie Hearn got 25 laps in Monday in the Pagan Racing IRL Dallara/OldsmobileV8, but admitted it was like opening day of practice.

"I didn't go out until five o'clock, the last hour of the third day. It felt like it was the first hour of the first day of practice," Hearn said after barely topping 200 mph. "We are really starting at ground zero."

Practice continues through Friday, with qualifications scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.