The Run is Over

By Blake Johnson
Speedway, Ind. – The Buddy Lazier and the Hemelgarn Johnson Motorsports team worked had to improve their speed but at the end of the day were not able to bump their way into the 2009 Indianapolis 500.

“I am very disappointed,” said Lazier. “We didn’t have it here today. We had it earlier today and we were back and forth. I feel bad for my guys. They worked so hard. We will be back. It just wasn’t there today.”

The team put Lazier and the No. 91 car in line to run again but the gun sounded ending the team’s hopes of starting another Indianapolis 500.

“We had speed and then we came up short on time there. I think the next run would have been really good. We just ran out of time.”

Buddy Lazier added that he is planning on being back for the 2010 Indianapolis 500.

Thanks to the media that covered the team today including:

VERSUS
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
The Indianapolis Star
WISH TV
WRTV TV
WTHR TV
FOX 59

Thanks for viewing the blog and our Twitter posts during the month of May. Please join us again in 2010.

You can also follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/HemelgarnRacing#/HemelgarnRacing

Please also visit the official website of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/

Follow the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series at http://www.indycar.com/

Watch the 2009 Indianapolis 500 on ABC TV May 24th at 12pm eastern. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network will also have live coverage.

Images in this blog are courtesy of Dana Garrett and Ron McQueeney and the Indy Racing League along with Blake Johnson of Hemelgarn Johnson Motorsports and may not be reproduced and posted on other websites without permission of the photographer © 2009.

Bumping In

By Blake Johnson
Speedway, Ind. – The Buddy Lazier and the Hemelgarn Johnson Motorsports are planning on bumping their way back into the 2009 Indianapolis 500 field during Bump Day, tomorrow. The team started the day acquiring data on practice qualifying runs in the morning. Lazier posted his fastest time of the month at 219.508.

“I thought we had a pretty good handle on the car in the morning when it was cold and the rain came,” said the 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner.

“By the time we ran our qualifying run, the sun had come out and the track had got a little warmer. We were kind of outside the window a little bit. We ran a 219 and then we started slowing down.”

Buddy Lazier turned a speed of 219.425 of the first lap of his qualifying lap but the heat of the day caused the car to slow on the next three laps. Lazier was then bumped from the field but the veteran was confident that he and the team could get the car back into the field on Bump Day.

“I think we will be ok tomorrow but we will have to wait and see. We would have liked to get it in today of course, but I have a lot if confidence in the team. We have a lot of data and even today we picked up a lot of data. That data is very important. We are looking forward to going fast tomorrow.”

In addition to his on track commitments today, Buddy Lazier also conducted interviews with the following media outlets:

VERSUS
The Indianapolis Star
CBS Radio
SPEED

WISH TV
WRTV TV
WTHR TV
FOX 59
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network
WBBM Radio

By the way, this is what the Pagoda looks like at 6:15am in the morning. It was a long day.

We will update this blog daily so please check back often.

You can also follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/HemelgarnRacing#/HemelgarnRacing

Please also visit the official website of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/

Follow the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series at http://www.indycar.com/

This weekend’s qualifying will be live on VERSUS from 12-6:30pm (eastern) on Saturday May 16th and 12-6:30pm (eastern) on Saturday May 17th. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network will also have live coverage.

All images in this blog were shot by of and are property of Blake Johnson © 2009.

On to Qualifying

By Blake Johnson
Speedway, Ind. – The Buddy Lazier and the Hemelgarn Johnson Motorsports team spent the final full day of practice on the track preparing qualifying on Saturday and Sunday.

Here, Firestone Technician Susie Jensen checks the temperature of our Firestone tires.

Buddy worked with the crew using data compiled by Honda, Firestone and the team to try to gain speed. Lazier turned a top speed of 219.190mph.

“I think it was actually a good gain day,” said Lazier. “It wasn’t all forward but most of what we did was a gain. The things that weren’t a gain I think we learned from. What was gained we didn’t have a chance to put it all together in the end. I think we have got more speed than what we are showing.”

The practice session ended early when about four or five bricks in the yard of bricks that make up the start finish line came loose.

“It would have been very nice to have had the last run but I applaud the speedway and all the officials. I know we ended a little bit early. I think it is great to always air on the side of caution in stuff like this. We were trying to put a lot together at the end of the day and we didn’t get the chance to run to confirm what we think we have learned. We will try to take advantage of our time tomorrow morning.”

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway plans to have the repairs made tonight in time for Saturday’s qualifying.

We will update this blog daily so please check back often.

You can also follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/HemelgarnRacing#/HemelgarnRacing

Please also visit the official website of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/

Follow the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series at http://www.indycar.com/

This weekend’s qualifying will be live on VERSUS from 12-6:30pm (eastern) on Saturday May 16th and 12-6:30pm (eastern) on Saturday May 17th. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network will also have live coverage.

All images in this blog were shot by and are property of Blake Johnson © 2009.

Warm and Slick Day at the Track

By Blake Johnson
Speedway, Ind. – The heavy rain at the track left it pretty green as the No. 91 car driven by Buddy Lazier took to the track for the first time in preparation for the running of the Indianapolis 500.

“There second weekend deals are tough especially if you are one car team,” said Buddy Lazier. “The reality here is that it is very difficult. Today was an interesting day. Our first day was one of the slowest days I believe of the month just in terms of a slippery racetrack. I guess that is good and bad. It is good because it helps us work on our race setup but it is bad because we can’t really see what we have got for speed. Hopefully the qualifying days will be fast.”

Lazier turned a speed pf 217.936 mph category in the car’s maiden voyage in 2009.

“I would feel really good with 222mph. That is my target but I have a feeling high 20’s will make the race. I have a lot of respect for this place. It can be real elusive but we are not there yet.”

Buddy Lazier and the No. 91 Hemelgarn Johnson Motorsports team are scheduled to take to the track for the final day of practice before second week qualifying Friday at 12pm eastern.

Buddy Lazier speaks with Honda Engineer, John Proctor about the days run.

More media are reporting about Buddy Lazier and the team.

Dave Lewandowski of IndyCar.com has a feature story on Buddy Lazier and the Hemelgarn Johnson Motorsports team on their website http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=13958

Thanks for visiting the blog. Check back tomorrow for more from the track.

You can also follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/HemelgarnRacing#/HemelgarnRacing

Please also visit the official website of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/

Follow the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series at http://www.indycar.com/

This weekend’s qualifying will be live on VERSUS from 12-6:30pm (eastern) on Saturday May 16th and 12-6:30pm (eastern) on Saturday May 17th. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network will also have live coverage.

All images in this blog were shot by of and are property of Blake Johnson © 2009.

A Beautiful Day for Practice

By Blake Johnson

Speedway, Ind. – Welcome back to the blog. It is a beautiful day for practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I have the privilege of literally writing this from trackside.

See, the boys gave me a spot on the pit box to share information with you. It doesn’t get any closer than this.

Buddy Lazier and the No. 91 car were on the track today warming the car up. Just after 1pm, they moved the car back to the garage to make adjustments.

We expect the car to be back out on track later.

I am updating our Twitter pages as events happen with the car to keep you up to date so check out the Twitter link below.

Chris Widlic and his photojournalist from WISH TV (CBS Indianapolis) stopped by to interview Ron Hemelgarn about the day’s activities.

I expect to update this blog later today so please check back often.

You can also follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/HemelgarnRacing#/HemelgarnRacing

Please also visit the official website of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/

Follow the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series at http://www.indycar.com/

This weekend’s qualifying will be live on VERSUS from 12-6:30pm (eastern) on Saturday May 16th and 12-6:30pm (eastern) on Saturday May 17th. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network will also have live coverage.

All images in this blog were shot by of and are property of Blake Johnson © 2009.

Picture Day

By Blake Johnson
Speedway, Ind. – It was a wet day in the garage area as the Hemelgarn Johnson Motorsports crew prepared for qualifications for the Indianapolis 500.

Driver Buddy Lazier took time for a photo shoot with IRL photo legend Ron McQueeney (below) and longtime LAT Indianapolis Motor Speedway 500 photographer Walt Kuhn (last image).

Buddy posed for a series of photos in his drivers suit, with and without his helmet. The photographers also shot his helmet. (Those images turned out great.) One day I hope to be able to shoot as well as these guys.

Lunch was a special treat as I had an opportunity to dine on Black Angus steak burgers at the Brickyard Crossing restaurant. It was a tasty suggestion by Buddy.

Back in the garage, the guys were hard at work despite the rain. I joined them working on the two way communications. Yes, I do more than blog and write news releases.

Hopefully we will have good weather Thursday-Sunday. Being a second week team puts a premium on track time. Tomorrow is our first day out on the track. I know Buddy Lazier and the crew will be maximizing that time to try to get the car in the show.

If this is your first time to visit this blog, thanks for taking a look behind the scenes as we prepare to qualify for the 2009 Indianapolis 500.

We will update this blog daily so please check back often.

You can also follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/HemelgarnRacing#/HemelgarnRacing

Please also visit the official website of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/

Follow the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series at http://www.indycar.com/

This weekend’s qualifying will be live on VERSUS from 12-6:30pm (eastern) on Saturday May 16th and 12-6:30pm (eastern) on Saturday May 17th. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network will also have live coverage.

All images in this blog were shot by of and are property of Blake Johnson © 2009.

(No photographers were harmed in this making of this blog.)

In the Seat

By Blake Johnson
Speedway, Ind. - This week Buddy Lazier and the Hemelgarn Johnson Motorsports team has been putting the final touches in the No. 91 car in preparation for this weekend’s qualifying at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Here you see Buddy Lazier sitting in the car talking with Crew Chief Dennis Lacava.

The No. 91 will sport the purple and white paint scheme with yellow on the nose.

If this is your first time to visit this blog, thanks for taking a look behind the scenes as we prepare to qualify for the 2009 Indianapolis 500.

We will update this blog daily so please check back often.

You can also follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/HemelgarnRacing#/HemelgarnRacing

Please also visit the official website of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/

Follow the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series at http://www.indycar.com/

This weekend’s qualifying will be live on VERSUS from 12-6:30pm (eastern) on Saturday May 16th and 12-6:30pm (eastern) on Saturday May 17th. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network will also have live coverage.

All images in this blog were shot by and are property of Blake Johnson © 2009.