From: Michael Powell 
 
RAHAL, BECK FILE ENTRIES FOR 88TH INDIANAPOLIS 500
 
INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, April 1, 2004 - Team Rahal filed three entries for the
88th Indianapolis 500, the most entries for the "Greatest Spectacle in
Racing"
in the team's history.
 
Beck Motorsports also filed a single entry for the race, scheduled for Sunday,
May 30 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
Entries must have been postmarked by midnight, March 31, with additional
entries continuing to arrive at Indy Racing League# headquarters in
Indianapolis.
 
Buddy Rice will drive the No. 15 Rahal/Letterman Argent/Pioneer Panoz G
Force/Honda/Firestone for Team Rahal, co-owned by 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner
Bobby Rahal and late-night talk show icon David Letterman. The team is
competing under the name Rahal/Letterman Racing at Indianapolis.
 
A backup also is entered, with Ricardo Nault as the chief mechanic of both
cars.
 
Rice will attempt to make his second Indianapolis 500 start, as he finished
11th as a rookie in 2003. Rice is substituting for 1999 Indianapolis 500 winner
Kenny Brack during the beginning of the IRL IndyCar# Series season, as Brack
continues to recover from serious injuries suffered in the 2003 season finale
at Texas Motor Speedway.
 
Roger Yasukawa will drive the No. 16 Rahal/Letterman Racing Sammy Panoz G
Force/Honda/Firestone, with a backup entered. Dennis Swan is the chief
mechanic.
 
Yasukawa finished 10th as a rookie in the 2003 Indianapolis 500.
 
Rahal/Letterman also entered the No. 17 Rahal/Letterman Racing Panoz G
Force/Honda/Firestone, with a backup. A driver and sponsor will be named later.
Greg Cates is the chief mechanic.
 
Steve Dickson is the team manager of the Rahal/Letterman entries.
 
"We are definitely prepared for the three-car effort at Indianapolis," said
Rahal, who announced recently that his team will campaign two cars full time in
the IndyCar Series after the Indianapolis 500. "Obviously, it's a challenge,
but I'm very pleased with the organization of the team. Dave (Letterman) and I
know the team is in good spirits entering the Indy 500, and I'm very excited
for this program at the Speedway."
 
Said Letterman, an Indianapolis native: "It was a thrill growing up just a few
miles from the Speedway and watching many of the sport's greatest drivers
compete in my hometown. Running three cars is a big challenge, but our team is
ready. I wish everyone with Rahal/Letterman Racing all the best."
 
Beck Motorsports entered the No. 54 Dallara/Chevrolet/Firestone and a backup
car. The driver, chief mechanic and team manager will be named later.
 
Shinji Nakano finished 14th in the 2003 Indianapolis 500 in a Beck entry.
 
___ Internet Rex 2.29
 


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