Danica's team feels this could be the year

Danica Patrick's IndyCar team is confident this could be her year to win the Indianapolis 500.

Michael Andretti, a retired IndyCar series champion and co-owner of her Andretti-Green Team, said Thursday that North America's most famous race was on one of Patrick's strongest tracks.

"She proved it in her rookie year," he said. "She was in a position to win (in 2005 when she finished fourth). If we can give her the track position up front, she's not going to be easy to pass."

Winning the Indy 500 on Sunday would give Patrick, 27, the credentials she fervently wants. While the diminutive driver broke through as the first female winner of an IndyCar series race in Japan last year, she is still best known as the race car driver who poses for swimsuit photoshoots.

Her biggest obstacle will be overcoming the powerful Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing teams, which grabbed four of the top five qualifying spots, with three Indy 500 winners driving in their cars. Last year, Ganassi's Scott Dixon won the race and went on to the series championship while Patrick's car crashed in the pits and she finished 22nd. "I feel like the gap has been closed quite a bit this year," Patrick said.

Patrick will start from 10th position in Sunday's 33-car grid, with Helio Castroneves on the pole alongside his Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe. Ganassi driver Dario Franchitti, the 2007 winner, starts outside on Row 1.

Newman on the Pole

Ryan Newman turned a lap at 188.475 m.p.h. Thursday night to grab the top starting spot for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday. It was Newman's eighth career pole at Lowe's Motor Speedway -- the most of any active driver -- and the Stewart-Haas Racing driver's 44th overall.

Kyle Busch will start second in NASCAR's longest race after a lap of 188.258. Points leader Jeff Gordon qualified third, followed by Hendrick Motorsports teammates Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson. J.J. Yeley, Mike Garvey, Todd Bodine and David Starr failed to qualify.

Rosberg Fastest in F1

Nico Rosberg had the fastest practice lap of the day in Monte Carlo Thursday as Formula One's cars took to the famous streets around the harbour ahead of Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old German Williams driver clocked a best time of one minute 15.243 seconds. He was two-10ths of a second quicker than last year's race winner, Briton Lewis Hamilton, in his McLaren Mercedes. Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who had been quickest in the morning session, was third fastest for the Brawn GP team ahead of his teammate, championship leading Briton Jenson Button.

Eccelstone Not Worried

Bernie Ecclestone is siding with the governing body, the FIA, in the push to introduce a Formula One budget cap in 2010. Ecclestone, who owns F1's commercial rights, said Thursday he doesn't expect the sides to reach a settlement. "Formula One will continue no matter what. We have a contract worldwide with TV and promoters, so we will continue like that," Ecclestone said.

Ferrari, Renault, Toyota, Red Bull and Toro Rosso have threatened to pull out of F1 unless FIA president Max Mosley withdraws plans for a voluntary $60-million U.S. budget cap.

Teams have until May 29 to enter next season's championship. Several teams are lined up to get into the F1 series. "Max doesn't feel any pressure," Ecclestone said.

The F1 Teams Association will meet with Mosley today to discuss the issue.

© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service

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