WASHINGTON - Reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Sam
Hornish Jr. said his 10-minute meeting with President George
Bush on Tuesday was over before he knew it.
Hornish and his Marlboro Team Penske group greeted President
Bush in the President's Conference Room in the Eisenhower
Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House.
A noted fast talker, Hornish admitted he was awestruck by Bush
while being honored for his thrilling victory in the 90th Indy
500 in May. The Defiance, Ohio native wished he had more time
to speak with the president.
"It might have been about 10 minutes, but it seemed like 10
seconds," Hornish said. "He was very complimentary of us winning
the Indianapolis 500 in the style in which we won, and of (me)
being a small-town boy from Ohio having a dream. He said seldom
do people that have dreams like that get to accomplish them."
Hornish, his wife, IRL CEO Tony George and Marlboro Team Penske
owner Roger Penske flanked the Borg-Warner Trophy for a photo
opportunity with the president.
"There aren't too many people I come in contact with that I
can't find the words to spit out of my mouth on what I want to
tell them, but that was one of them," Hornish said. "I couldn't
say everything I wanted to say. I got out the fact how honored
I was to meet him.
"As soon as his hand left mine and he moved on, I thought, 'Hey,
dummy, you didn't say half the things you wanted to say to
him.' So I was more critical of myself for not saying the
things I wanted to."
Hornish was impressed at how Bush commanded power, especially
with the White House photographers.
"I wish I had the kind of power he did," Hornish said. "It was,
'All right, take your pictures. OK, get out of here.' I wish I
could do that. I had to stay and have them take pictures for 3
1/2 hours after I won the Indy 500."
It is the second time in the last three years that Bush has met
with the Indy 500 winner. He honored Buddy Rice at the White
House's South Lawn in 2004.
Prior to Rice's visit, Rick Mears was the last Indy 500 winner
to be invited to the White House after capturing his fourth
checkered flag in 1991.
"I think it's a real honor for the president to take the time to
meet Sam and our team," Penske said. "It's a credit to IndyCar
racing and the status it's achieved in the sports world. To
me, it's a demonstration of how open our political leaders are
with their constituency."
After the formal photo, Bush spoke to Hornish about the
thrilling finish of this year's Indy 500, where Hornish made a
last-lap push to pass rookie Marco Andretti.
"You had a close one there. How close was it?" Bush asked.
"A little too close for me," Hornish replied.
"I've had a few close races before, too," Bush said. "And my
attitude is first is first."
Bush also commended George for moving the IRL toward ethanol,
which is being blended with methanol to power cars this year.
Next year, 100 percent ethanol will be used in the series.
Hornish's wife, Crystal, was stunned that someone from a tiny
town could meet the president.
"Never in a million years did I think I would ever get to meet
the President of the United States," she said. "My mom and dad
were giving me grief that I had to miss work again today. I
said, 'Well, I am going to meet the President today.' They said
they could cut me some slack for that."
But the most excited person at the White House undoubtedly was
Hornish, who presented Bush with an autographed racing helmet
and a Marlboro Team Penske jacket. Bush was thankful for the
gifts, but Hornish simply was grateful for the experience.
"There aren't too many things you can do in life where you get
to go to the White House," he said. "It's a pretty important
day in my life."