INDY 500 | Notebook

Criticism: A.J. Foyt IV struggled through his first Indianapolis 500, with competitors complaining about his driving. It wasn't the greatest way to celebrate your 19th birthday. Other drivers and teams had to deal with avoiding the much slower and inexperienced Foyt throughout Sunday's race. Runner-up Helio Castroneves even blamed him for possibly costing him the race. The race proved as much a struggle as May's practices on the 21/2-mile oval. He crashed twice in May, once last month in private testing, and barely avoided a fourth crash in qualifying May 11. His record prompted concern long before the race began. He also struggled with his speed, at times running as much as 6 or 7 mph slower than the rest of the field. He was sometimes forced high into the turns and barely avoided a few close calls. Robby McGehee said the younger Foyt "almost ran over the top of me." McGehee dropped out after 125 laps because of steering problems. The elder Foyt said his grandson wasn't sure if he hit McGehee. Jimmy Vasser, one of Rahal's drivers, was forced from the race after 102 laps because of engine trouble.
Gettin' Dirty: Rookie Dan Wheldon walked away from the most spectacular crash of the day after his car spun into the wall on the fourth turn, went airborne and skidded to a stop upside down. The accident occurred just after Hornish had tried to make a pass on Lap 187. "I think I just picked up some dirty air and just got loose," he said. "Next thing, I'm into the wall." Hornish said Wheldon was trying to block him, a move Barnhart had cautioned against. "He pinched the course off," Hornish said.
-- Associated Press