NOTEBOOK \ From Indianapolis
Weighty issues: The Indy Racing League isn't giving any weight to the complaints about Danica Patrick's slight frame. One day after NASCAR's Robby Gordon said he would not race against the petite Patrick because he believes she has a weight advantage at a mere 100 pounds, IRL officials said they were not considering changing their rules to level the playing field. "It's no issue at all, as it pertains to the Indianapolis 500 and oval-track racing," league spokesman John Griffin said. The IRL does not consider the weight of the driver in its race specifications. While cars must weigh a minimum of 1,525 pounds before the fuel and driver are added, drivers are not weighed. Less weight could give Patrick two advantages -- quicker speeds and less fuel consumption, which could be a key in a 500-mile race. Patrick qualified fourth, consistently turned some of the fastest laps of the month and ran low on gas at the end of the race, giving way to winner Dan Wheldon. The Englishman is listed at 157 pounds. Gordon suggested Saturday that Patrick's small frame gave her a significant edge over someone like himself, who weighs nearly 200 pounds. After Patrick's impressive run Sunday, Gordon reiterated the point. "I never questioned her ability, she can drive a race car and there's no doubt about that," Gordon said. "But I believe in what I said and I think I speak for many of the guys racing against her."
Foyt trouble: A.J. Foyt's team ran into early problems for the third straight year at Indianapolis, and both of the four-time winner's drivers were out of the race early. Before the green flag flew, A.J. Foyt IV, Foyt's grandson, was already struggling with his earplugs. He had the same problem two years ago as a rookie before hitting the wall early in last year's race. Larry Foyt, son of the team owner, crashed after completing just 15 laps when he spun in the first turn and hit the outside wall. Track officials said he was had a chip fracture in his lower spine and would be kept overnight for further evaluation. A.J. Foyt IV's day also ended early, when he dropped down and touched wheels with Bruno Junqueira and sent Junqueira into the wall with debris scattered across the track. Foyt IV had completed 72 laps and was five laps behind the race leaders when the accident occurred. He got back on the track and finished 12 more laps before dropping out. Walking back to garage after the crash, Foyt said: "I don't know what happened -- if I cut in too early or what."
Unlucky Sam: Sam Hornish Jr. couldn't avoid more bad luck Sunday. Hornish, a former two-time IRL series champion, crashed on Lap 147 Sunday. It's the third time in six starts Hornish has crashed at Indianapolis, and he still has not completed 200 laps on the 21/2-mile oval. "I felt I moved up off the corner and it was one of those things," Hornish said. "I tried to give the guy below me plenty of room and got moved up coming off a corner, which the car pushed pretty bad. I don't know what to think about it." Hornish has crossed the finish line only twice -- in 2001 and 2002 when he completed 196 and 186 laps, respectively.
Associated Press