HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- It was only the first day of practice for
the 2005 Indy Racing League season and already the competitors were
wheel-to-wheel on the track.
Buddy Rice, last year's Indianapolis 500 winner and one of the
favorites for the IndyCar Series championship this season, led the
way Friday on the 1½-mile oval at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a
fast lap of 213.514 mph.
More impressive, though, was the way the competitors were
running in the second session of the opening day of the Toyota Indy
300 weekend. They darted around the banked track like a swarm of
bees, passing and being passed as if the championship depended upon
the result.
"I think what you're seeing is some drivers moved around with
their sponsorship and some of the big teams have added cars," Rice
said. "We have 22 cars here, and I think the moves have compacted
the field even more and made it even more competitive.
"With the rules package being the way they are and the way the
engines are so close, I think you'll see qualifying tomorrow with
the whole field separated by three or four tenths (of a second). It
will be that way all year. You can't afford to make any mistakes."
Friday's practice reflected Rice's words, with three-tenths of a
second separating Rice's Honda-powered Panoz from the 13th-place
Dallara-Toyota of IRL champion Tony Kanaan.
Bryan Herta was close behind Rice at 213.148 in a Honda-powered
Dallara, followed by Tomas Scheckter's 213.025 in a
Chevrolet-powered Dallara. The top Toyota driver was former series
champion Scott Dixon, sixth at 212.194.
Rice began last season as a little-known fill-in for injured
Kenny Brack, a former series champion and Indy winner. But he won
the pole here and quickly established himself as a key part of Team
Rahal.
Now, coming back as the team's No. 1 driver, Rice's goal is a
championship.
"I have just as good a chance as anybody," he said. "You saw
what our car did last year and our car is just as strong as
anybody's. As close as everybody is in this series, I think there's
eight to 10 guys who can win the championship.
"What it comes down to is who makes the fewest mistakes. Last
year, Kanaan didn't make any and he won the championship."
Rice, third in 2004 points, was alluding to Kanaan finishing
every lap of every race last year on the way to the title.
Last year, Honda-powered cars dominated the series. Except for
victories by Team Penske drivers Sam Hornish Jr., here, and Helio
Castroneves in the season-finale at Texas -- both in Toyota-powered
cars -- Hondas won every race. Chevrolets were also-rans.
Everyone is expecting Toyota to be more competitive this season,
but Chevrolet, which is being used only by Scheckter and Panther
Racing teammate Tomas Enge, is a big question mark.
"In every interview this winter, I was asked how we can be
competitive against Honda and Toyota with only one team," Sheckter
said. "Well, Chevrolet has done a lot of work in the offseason and
so far, so good.
"What you saw in that last practice session is what I expect in
the races. Close, very competitive racing."
Among the newcomers, Danica Patrick, the only woman in the
series this season, was 18th at 210.369.