Roth Racing Qualifies Both Cars At Indy

Indianapolis, Indiana - Sunday, May 18, 2008

Coming into the month of May Roth Racing had high hopes of getting both of its cars into the field for the 92nd Indianapolis 500. Little did they know how hard, and nerve racking, it would be to accomplish that feat.

Recently recruited driver John Andretti accomplished the first half of the organizations goals by qualifying the 1-800-Las-Vegas #24 car in the middle of the pack on Saturday with a 4-lap average of 221.550 mph, good for 21st on the grid.

Things weren’t quite as easy for Roth in the #25 car as he qualified 33rd in the 33-car field, which put him on the bubble going into Sunday’s final day of qualifying.

Although it was windy, the temperature on Sunday was much cooler, and it was thought that any speed under 219 mph might be vulnerable.

Roth’s tenuous hold on the final starting spot didn’t last long as A.J. Foyt IV went out as soon as the track opened and posted a fast 4-lap average of 219.184 mph, knocking the #25 car out of the field.

An hour and half later Roth went out for his 1st attempt. The team had made a gear change to the car to allow for the varying winds and they picked the right ratios. Marty posted laps of 219.200, 219.055, 218.358, and 219.251 for a 4-lap average of 218.965 mph, which put him back into the field. The speed bumped Buddy Lazier and put Roger Yasukawa on the bubble.

The final 30 minutes of qualifying were hectic as first Dominguez bumped Roger Yasukawa before being bumped by Buddy Lazier, whose speed was quick enough to put Roth back on the bubble. Dominguez then went out just before qualifying ended. His 1st lap was a fast 219.780 mph, but as the gun went off to signify the end of qualifying he crashed on lap 2, giving Roth the 33rd and final starting position for the 92nd Indianapolis 500.

MARTY ROTH (Owner/Driver, #25 Roth Racing, qualified 33rd)
“Wow, what a day. To say I am excited about making the field for next Sunday’s 92nd Indianapolis 500 is an understatement. Although we struggled to find the speed in the car, and with the weather conditions the way they were, I have to say that I am very proud of the guys for what we’ve accomplished so far this year. Getting both cars into the field is a great way of saying thank you to everyone involved with the organization as they’ve all worked so hard these past few months. Now we can relax a bit for a day or two as we get ready for what we think will be the biggest day in the history of Roth Racing.”

This will be Marty Roth’s 4th Indy 500 start, John Andretti’s 9th.

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