Ex-champion Brack is fastest at Indy session

Former Indy 500 winner Kenny Brack got his comeback off the ground in a big way Saturday at Indianapolis, qualifying for the May 29 race with a faster speed than pole sitter Tony Kanaan.

When the 39-year-old Swede stepped out of his car following a four-lap, 10-mile qualifying effort of 227.598 mph, defending 500 winner Buddy Rice – the man he replaced in the cockpit of the No. 15 Rahal Letterman Racing entry – was waiting there to give Brack a big hug.

But Brack, coming back from serious injuries in a crash at Texas Motor Speedway in October 2003, will have to settle for starting 23rd in the 33-car field for the Memorial Day weekend race after missing the opening day of qualifications last week.

“I don’t think the starting position will make a difference,” Brack said. “I think having a good race car is what matters. I am just relieved we’re in the field and I’m also glad for the team. They have had a real tough month, but they gave me the chance to shine a little bit.”

It will be his first Indy Racing League start since the devastating crash in which he broke both ankles, a thigh, his back and ribs. One of the ankles was crushed, and Brack spent three months in hospitals recovering and rehab.

His performance Saturday was the culmination of all the hours of physical therapy and training he has put in over the past 18 months.

About his qualifying effort, which included the fastest lap of the month at 227.940, he said: “It wasn’t perfect, but it was plenty good enough.”

Kanaan led 22 qualifiers last Sunday with a speed of 227.566, locking up the top starting spot for the 500-mile race. Brack didn’t even arrive at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway until Tuesday, called by team co-owner Bobby Rahal to replace the injured Rice — ironically, the driver who replaced him last year.

Rice, a pole contender, crashed during practice on May 10.

Champ Car

At Monterrey, Mexico, defending champion Sebastian Bourdais broke his course record and held off Justin Wilson by a half-second to capture the pole position for the Monterrey Grand Prix.

Bourdais was again the fastest driver on the 2.104-mile Fundidora Park road course. He pushed his Ford-powered Lola to 102.875 mph.

Formula 1

Kimi Raikkonen took the lead in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo. The second qualifying run is four hours before today’s race, with the combined times determining the starting grid.

Renault’s Fernando Alonso, winner of three races this season and runner-up to Raikkonen two weeks ago at the Spanish GP, was second in 1:14.125.