Rookies Jam Final Lineup At Indy 500 Ongais Makes Comeback As Sub For Brayton In Menard’s Best Car

Long on speed, short on experience, the rookie-filled Indianapolis 500 lineup was completed Sunday with three more qualifiers and a 53-year-old veteran who hasn’t raced an Indy car in nine years.

Starting at the rear of the fastest lineup in Indy history next Sunday is Danny Ongais, who will take over the car in which Scott Brayton qualified.

Brayton, who won the pole position for the second straight year, was killed in a crash during practice Friday.

A drag racing champion who was one of the hardest charging drivers from the late 1970s through the mid-80s, Ongais was picked as a substitute driver by car owner John Menard on Sunday, the final day of qualifications.

“We looked long and hard to find somebody that would be appropriate to do this,” Menard said. “I’ve known Danny for many years. We’re very happy to be associated with him, although we’re wishing it would be under different circumstances.

“But Danny’s going to do a fine job and carry on what Scott, I think, would want done, and that’s to see the car raced on race day here at the greatest race in the world.”

Ongais, who turns 54 Tuesday, must start the race 33rd, at the rear, because he is a substitute.

He was replaced by a substitute driver in his last appearance at Indianapolis in 1987 after he sustained a severe concussion in practice. His Team Penske ride that year went to Al Unser Sr., who went on to a record-tying fourth victory.

Most of the top teams and drivers will be at Michigan International Speedway next Sunday for the U.S. 500, an outgrowth of the split between Championship Auto Racing Teams and Speedway president Tony George’s Indy Racing League.

With the qualification Sunday of veteran Hideshi Matsuda and rookies Scott Harrington and Joe Gosek, the lineup will include 17 drivers who have never competed at Indianapolis, the largest rookie crop since 19 started the race in 1919 and 1930.

Led by a 236.986 mph four-lap qualification record by 1990 winner Arie Luyendyk, the only former winner in the lineup, the 33 qualifiers averaged a record 227.807, breaking the former mark of 226.912 set last year.

Luyendyk will start on the seventh row because his run came on the second day of qualifications.

With Ongais taking over Brayton’s car, the pole position automatically goes to rookie Tony Stewart, Brayton’s teammate and the second-fastest qualifier on the first day of time trials.