IRL ace hopes for quick turnaround

Keith Parsons

Thursday, April 26, 2001 | 12:02 p.m.

ATLANTA - Greg Ray seems to have it all, from the square-jawed, dark-haired good looks of a Hollywood heartthrob to what easily has been the fastest car in the past three Indy Racing League seasons.

Ray, the 1999 IRL champion, has not qualified worse than fourth in that span, winning four races, leading in 13 of the 20 events, and earning $3 million. But luck hasn't held for him and Team Menard the past year and a half, with accidents and mechanical troubles forcing them out of seven races.

Even with the tough times, the team has had results like Ray's dominating victory last summer at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he led 182 of 208 laps. There also have been six pole positions in the past nine races.

Speed has not been the problem. Endurance has.

"There's no doubt we've had our share of problems," said the 34-year-old racer from Plano, Texas. "Any team that is pushing the envelope to be fast week in and week out is bound to have some failures."

But he believes much can be learned in a weekend of setbacks.

"I guess if that's the case, we should be experts by now," he said.

This season has started poorly, with two front-row starting spots ending in an accident and engine failure. Ray's best finish is 21st, and he sits 23rd in the series standings entering Saturday night's Atlanta 500 Classic.

"We're very frustrated," said team owner John Menard. "We feel like victory is right there. We just can't get the finishes we feel like we deserve."

But misfortune hasn't dampened Ray's optimism or enthusiasm for 2001.

"I think we're a legitimate threat to win every week," he said. "We've been in position to if not win races, finish second or third, and we've had problems that run the gamut.

"I don't dwell on that. I'm doing the best job I can right now to make the best decisions I can and carry our team banner as high on the podium as I can."

A good chance for Ray to turn his season around comes with the series back at the 1.54-mile track in suburban Hampton. He was the class of the field last year in his only win of the season, and led 37 laps in 1999 before electrical problems forced him to the garage.

Last year's race was in July, when temperatures in Atlanta regularly approach 100. The earlier date should provide for cooler weather, but other than driver and fan comfort, it shouldn't make a big difference.

"These cars are somewhat heat sensitive, but Atlanta has so much banking in the turns that it's not super critical," Menard said.

That's good news to Ray.

"Last year, we had a perfect weekend," he said. "We were quickest in practice, qualifying and the races. Most weekends are not that easy, but we're capable of doing that in a lot of races."

With Atlanta certainly among his best tracks, Ray knows he can't afford to throw away opportunities.

"You really have to mind your Ps and Qs, so you make sure you can win when you can," he said. "I don't want to sound overly bold, but I certainly think we can still win several times this year."