Rain Slows Indy Practice

More rain. More frustration.

That was the story at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as time began to run out for teams needing more speed to qualify this weekend for the May 28 Indy 500.

Rain kept the track closed for the first three hours of the scheduled 6-hour session. When the 2 1/2-mile oval did finally open, the action was furious but not particularly fast.

Twenty-four cars made it onto the track, turning a total of 374 laps before rain began pelting down again. That was it for the day.

Teo Fabi, already qualified and working on his race day setup in his backup car, was fast with a lap at 226.935 mph, followed by non-qualified rookie Carlos Guerrero at 225.717.Team Penske drivers Emerson Fittipaldi and Al Unser Jr., who have not qualified, got onto the track for much-needed practice time.

Six engines used in the pro stock cars driven on the NHRA circuit by Darrell Alderman and Scott Geoffrion were destroyed during a break-in at the team’s racing shop in Fairfield, Ill.

The engines, valued at $500,000, were destroyed by a sledgehammer-type object, according to investigators.