Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Defending champ replaced by past champ in Indy 500

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 | 9:05 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Buddy Rice will not be able to defend his Indianapolis 500 championship due to injuries he suffered in a practice crash last week at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Rice suffered a concussion, a bruised back and a partially torn spinal ligament in his neck in the single-car accident last Wednesday during practice for the 89th Indianapolis 500. Indy Racing League doctors have recommended rest and rehabilitation and will re-assess Rice's condition in three weeks, according to IRL medical director Dr. Henry Bock.

"Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed that I won't be able to defend my Indy 500 championship," Rice said. "I have spent the last several months thinking about, working towards and planning how I would defend my Indy 500 victory. Physically, I feel fine but I have to trust the speedway and IRL medical team because they are looking out for my safety.

"I am optimistic that I will be cleared for (the June 11 race at Texas Motor Speedway) and will be able to get back in the car. I plan to stay here in Indy and help our team in any way I can. I think this team can win the Borg Warner Trophy again and I hope I can assist them in accomplishing that goal."

Former Indy winner Kenny Brack will replace Rice.

Brack was expected to practice today in the No. 15 Honda-powered Panoz racer and will try to qualify for the May 29 race. He has tested an IndyCar, but has not raced in the IRL since breaking both ankles, a thigh, his back and ribs in a terrifying wreck during the season-ending race at Texas in October 2003.

One of those ankles was crushed in the crash, and the 39-year-old Swede spent the next three months in hospitals.

The 1998 IRL champion returned to racing last September in Sweden. Driving a Porsche in the Carrera Cup series, he finished fifth in two races.

"This has been a difficult obstacle for Buddy," team owner Bobby Rahal said. "Our first concern is that he recover physically from the accident and we have been assured by Dr. Bock that in this case that the time off will be the solution."

Practice for the Indianapolis 500 resumed today. The two final qualifying sessions for the race are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

POLE NO ADVANTAGE: Tony Kanaan, who will start the Indianapolis 500 from the pole, said there really is no advantage to starting from the coveted No. 1 position in a 500-mile race.

"I think it's just an advantage for the start and the first couple laps," Kanaan said. "After that, you've got to catch traffic; you've got to have a good car. If your car goes off, somebody's going to pass you.

"Obviously, everybody tried to be on the pole because it feels good, but (it) doesn't matter anything. That doesn't say you have the best car for the race ... because if you don't have a good racecar, you can go back in a hurry."

In the previous 88 races, only 17 drivers have won from the pole. The most recent to accomplish the feat was Buddy Rice last year. Rick Mears holds the Indy 500 record with three victories from the pole.

Kanaan won the pole with a four-lap average speed of 227.566 mph.

SUCCESSFUL NIGHT: Monday night's sixth annual "Racing to Recovery Gala" in Indianapolis raised more than $232,000 to benefit the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation and the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana.

Michael Andretti was presented with the inaugural Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation's Legendary Driver award at the function, which was attended by a host of current and former IndyCar drivers.

Headed by Henderson resident Sam Schmidt, who was paralyzed in an IRL testing accident five years ago, the goal of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is to help individuals overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances.

OUTLAWS UPDATE: Saturday night's The Ohio Challenge at K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio, was postponed due to rain, marking the second consecutive World of Outlaws event to fall victim to inclement weather.

Steve Kinser, the 19-time series champion, continues to lead the WoO standings with a 126-point lead over Craig Dollansky. Jason Meyers, Kraig Kinser and Donny Schatz round out the top five. Danny Lasoski, the 2001 WoO champion, is sixth in the standings, 261 points off the lead.