Las Vegas drivers in top 20 at Indy

Monday, May 7, 2001 | 10:36 a.m.

Las Vegas drivers Al Unser Jr. and Davey Hamilton were among the top 20 drivers Sunday on the opening day of practice for the 85th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Unser, Jr., the 1992 and 1994 Indianapolis 500 winner, was 12th fastest with a lap of 216.639 mph in the Galles Racing Starz Superpak G-Force/Oldsmobile. Earlier in the day, Unser joined former winners Arie Luyendyk (1990, 1997), Buddy Lazier (1996) and Eddie Cheever Jr. (1998) in a few ceremonial laps to officially open practice on 2 1/2-mile oval.

"It feels good to get the month of May under way," said Unser, Jr. "I'm pleased with what we did. We give it 100 percent every day that we're in the car. When everything is right, we'll be fast."

Hamilton, who drives for car owner Sam Schmidt of Henderson, was 17th fastest Sunday at 215.246 in the Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara/Oldsmobile.

"We're just tinkering around," said Hamilton, who logged a total of 45 laps in three different sessions Sunday. "We're just learning about the car. We made a spring adjustment before the last time we went out. There's a lot left in the car."