For Rookies, It’s Not a Sunday Spin

INDIANAPOLIS — The 13 drivers in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 who are candidates for rookie-of-the-year honors make up one of the most diverse groups to make a debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The number is well short of the record 19 rookies in 1919 and 1930 and also less than last year’s 17.

Their credentials:

* Vincenzo Sospiri, 30, of Brazil, is the fastest at 216.822 mph. When this season began, he was driving a Lotus Formula One car, but when the team folded he came to the United States to drive for Andy Evans. Has never driven in an Indy car race.

* Jeff Ward, 35, of San Juan Capistrano, is a seven-time national motocross champion with Kawasaki. Has several years in Indy Lights.

* Steve Kinser, 41, of Bloomington, Ind., is a 14-time World of Outlaws sprint car champion, generally considered the greatest ever. Passed Indy rookie test in 1981, crashed and didn’t return until this year. Tried Winston Cup briefly but has never been in Indy car race.

* Billy Boat, 31, of Phoenix, won U.S. Auto Club-record 11 races in a row in Western States midget series in 1995. Was bumped from 500 field on final day last year. Has never driven in an Indy car race.

* Sammy Schmidt, 29, of Las Vegas, is a graduate of Pepperdine who was Sports Car Club of America Southern Pacific driver of the year in 1993 in a Formula Continental. Also played baseball with the Sylmar Independent Baseball League.

* Robbie Groff, 31, of Atlanta, is younger brother of IRL points leader Mike Groff. Runner-up in 1989 SCCA Super Vee national championships. Drove 1994 Indy car race at Long Beach. Originally from Van Nuys.

* Jack Miller, 35, of Carmel, Ind., is a wealthy dentist who brought sponsorship, a beautiful race car and little talent to the series. In two years of Indy Lights, never finished better than eighth.

* Billy Roe, 40, of Gilbert, Ariz., longtime Indy car mechanic who holds world record for electric-powered Indy cars of 107 mph.

* Greg Ray, 30, of Plano, Texas, won SCCA Formula Ford and Formula Atlantic national championships in successive years, got Indy ride when he landed Arizona Diamondbacks major league baseball team as sponsor.

* Tyce Carlson, 27, of Indianapolis, has driven USAC midget, sprint car and Silver Crown series before making IRL debut last season.

* Kenny Brack, 31, of Sweden, runner-up in International Formula 3000 series last year. Replacing injured Davy Jones on Galles team.

* Claude Bourbonnais, 31, of Canada, finished ahead of Jacques Villeneuve in 1993 Toyota Atlantic series, winning all four of its oval races. Has not raced in a year.

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Johnny Unser may be starting last in Sunday’s race, but he expects to get farther than he did last year when transmission problems put him out on the second parade lap.

“Now I want to race in the Indy 500,” Unser, 38, said after being given the 35th starting position by IRL officials. “I came here [Indianapolis] without a ride. When Ron [Hemelgarn] offered me a ride, I was grateful. I have nothing to regret.”

Unser and Lyn St. James were added to the field because their qualifying times were faster than seven others who were exempt under the IRL rule guaranteeing starting positions up to 25 drivers who drove in other IRL races. That rule has been rescinded for next year.

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Unser is the fifth member of the Albuquerque family to be in the 500. His father, Jerry, was the first, but was killed while practicing for the 1959 race. Four-time winner Al and three-time winner Bobby are his uncles, and two-time winner Al Jr. is Johnny’s cousin.