Vasser, Unser record their fastest Indy laps

Wednesday, May 9, 2001 | 10:12 a.m.

Jimmy Vasser of Las Vegas climbed the speed chart Tuesday with a lap of 222.587 mph on the third day of practice for the 85th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Driving the Target G Force/Oldsmobile, Vasser ranked seventh among the 35 drivers on the 2 1/2-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway with his fastest lap in his two days of practice.

Another Las Vegan, Al Unser Jr., had his fastest lap -- 220.630 mph.

Meanwhile, car owner Sam Schmidt of Henderson and driver Davey Hamilton added former '500' veteran Gary Bettenhausen to the team as a coach. Hamilton was up to 219.132 mph in his test car, a year-old Dallara/Olds.

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