Montoya favored; Ray draws some action

Friday, May 26, 2000 | 11:02 a.m.

Juan Montoya is a 7-2 favorite to win the Indianapolis 500, with Target/Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Jimmy Vasser a 9-2 second choice, according to odds posted at Wild Wild West by sports book manager Micah Roberts.

But there's really only one driver Roberts will be rooting against in Sunday's race: Pole sitter Greg Ray.

Roberts, the city's preeminent motor sports oddsmaker, said he is exposed on Ray after gamblers bet him down from an opening line of 15-1 to his current price of 8-1.

Roberts first posted odds on the Indy 500 more than two months ago at the hotel-casino on Tropicana Ave. He makes a line on all 33 drivers in the race.

"Greg Ray is a great qualifier," Roberts said. "But for some reason he always seems to have more problems during the course of the race than some other drivers."

Roberts said bettors are also backing the race's two women drivers, Sarah Fisher (65-1) and Lyn St. James (90-1).

"Not to say they can't win it, but it's surprising given that there is a lot of talent in this race," said Roberts, who expects the bulk of the betting action from today through race time. "This is shaping up as the most interesting Indy 500 since the open-wheel division split in '95."

Roberts is offering a proposition that either Montoya or Vasser will pull off a weekend sweep by winning Saturday's CART Bosch Grand Prix at Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway and Sunday's Indy 500. Montoya is a 10-1 shot to do it; Vasser is 22-1.

There are also a number of driver vs. driver matchups, including one pairing Fisher (minus 115) and St. James (minus 105).