Will O'Hargan
INDIANAPOLIS -- Rahal Letterman Racing replaced one Indianapolis 500 winner with another. The Indianapolis 500 winner for 1999, Kenny Brack, was named the driver of the No. 15 Argent/Pioneer Honda Wednesday morning.
Brack has not raced IndyCars since he was involved in an accident in the season ending Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in 2003.
"I feel ready," Brack said. "But, you know, to come into this situation like this is obviously more challenging than being around for the whole month and all that. But I felt knowing the team and knowing the players here -- and we've done great things together -- it's a lot more easy."
Brack will replace defending Indy 500 champion Buddy Rice, who was involved in an accident on May 11 in Turn 2.
According to Dr. Henry Bock, senior director of medical services for the Indy Racing League, Rice has a partially torn spinal ligament in his mid- to lower-neck area, a ligament essential to maintaining the alignment of the spine.
"Right now, we need to do what's best for the team, what's best for the other two drivers [Vitor Meira and Danica Patrick] and all of our sponsors, and that's to put Kenny in the seat," Rice said.
This isn't the first time Rice and Brack have been in a driver swap. Following the 2003 season, Rice left Red Bull Cheever Racing to join Bobby Rahal's organization and took over a ride Brack occupied.
Brack tested last season at Richmond, but concluded he did not have the stamina to compete in the race, one of the more demanding races of the IndyCar season.
"I don't think a Hollywood film producer could have come up with a script better than this one," Brack said. "Having Buddy replace me and then be coming back to replace him, yeah, it's a little strange.
"I believe that it happened for a reason, perhaps, and we'll see how it goes."
Other than himself, Rice said there was no one else he'd rather see drive his car than the 1998 IndyCar champion.
"It was extremely difficult last year to come in," Rice said. "[Brack] was a huge supporter. He was there all year. He was a big help to everything that happened last year. So I'm extremely happy that he's in the car, gets another shot."
Rahal said that Brack was his first choice for a replacement.
"It wasn't even close between him and anybody else," he said. "I mean, it was Kenny, Kenny, Kenny, then depending on what he would say.
"Kenny, he only drives fast."
Brack turned a fast lap of 225.774 mph on his first day back at the Speedway.
Other open rides named drivers in the lull following pole day.
Arie Luyendyk Jr., son of the two-time Indy 500 Champion, will man the No. 98 CURB records Chevy.
"It's been a dream of mine to race in the Indianapolis 500," he said. "I'm ready for this important step in my career."
Luyendyk Jr. will still have to go through rookie orientation.
Jimmy Kite returned to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Wednesday, taking over the No. 91 Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing Toyota for the injured Paul Dana.
Kite has raced in four Indy 500s, with a best finish of 11th in 1998.
Other info:
Brack's career stats:
YEAR - TEAM - START - FINISH - LAPS - LAPS LED
1997 - Galles Racing - 15 - 33 - 0 - 0
1998 - AJ Foyt Enterprises 3 - 6 - 198 - 23
1999 - AJ Foyt Enterprises 8 - 1 - 200 - 66
2002 - Chip Ganassi Racing 21 - 11 200 - 0
2003 - Team Rahal - 6 - 16 - 195 - 0
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