Beechler back at Foyt for Indy.
Donnie Beechler has rejoined AJ Foyt's team for the Indianapolis 500 after the pair reached an agreement in Foyt's garage at the Speedway yesterday afternoon [14 May].
Beechler will drive a third Dallara-Chevrolet as team-mate to Airton Dare and Greg Ray, and all three drivers will be trying to qualify for the 500 this Sunday after not posting times during last weekend's rain-hit qualification sessions. Sunday is also 'Bump Day', or the last opportunity to qualify for the historic race, meaning that the Foyt team will make a rare appearance in the last chance session.
Donnie Beechler has rejoined AJ Foyt's team for the Indianapolis 500 after the pair reached an agreement in Foyt's garage at the Speedway yesterday afternoon [14 May].
Beechler will drive a third Dallara-Chevrolet as team-mate to Airton Dare and Greg Ray, and all three drivers will be trying to qualify for the 500 this Sunday after not posting times during last weekend's rain-hit qualification sessions. Sunday is also 'Bump Day', or the last opportunity to qualify for the historic race, meaning that the Foyt team will make a rare appearance in the last chance session.
"I want to drive at Indy and it's good to be back with a team that I have confidence in," Beechler admitted, "We had a good car here last year and I've been looking forward to coming back to Indy, although I think this is going to be one of the tightest fields ever."
"I'm pulling out all the stops," said Foyt, who is in the unique position of trying to get three cars in the field on the final day of qualifying, "Donnie drove a great race here last year and I'm happy to have him driving for me again at the Speedway."
Beechler, who celebrates his 41st birthday this Saturday [18 May], will be in the #14T car when practice resumes on today [Wednesday]. It will be his first time on the track since the surface has been ground down to remove the bumps, having been concussed at the opening round of the IRL series at Homestead. Currently, the average speed for the 24 qualified cars is over 229mph, with the new surface contributing to an increase in speed over 2001.
Beechler began his tenure with Foyt at this time last year when he got in one of the back-up cars on the second weekend and qualified it at 224.449mph, which was the fifth quickest speed overall. He charged from 27th to seventh before a broken oil line fitting cost him a top ten finish. He continued to drive for Foyt and claimed six top ten finishes in nine starts, including a career best finish of third at the inaugural race at Kansas Speedway. He finished 15th in the Indy Racing League points, despite missing four of the IRL's 13 scheduled races.
