Vasser tops 219 mph for ninth-fastest time

Tuesday, May 8, 2001 | 9:37 a.m.

Jimmy Vasser of Las Vegas was the ninth fastest driver Monday just a few hours after rejoining car owner Chip Ganassi on the second day of practice for the 85th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Vasser toured the world famous 2 1/2-mile oval in the early afternoon at 219.381 mph in the Target G Force/Oldsmobile entry.

Las Vegan Davey Hamilton, team owner Sam Schmidt of Henderosn and the crew were huddled in a strategy meeting late Monday. "We didn't get any laps, but we changed the engine," Hamilton said. "This is a new (engine-chassis) configuration, so it took a little while longer to do all the plumbing. It's just a matter of getting on the track and getting laps."

Another Las Vegas driver, two-time Indy 500 champion Al Unser Jr., hit 218.208 mph for the 17th fastest time of the day.

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