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Jones comfortable with spectator role for Indy

Steve Yingling

There were constant reminders all week that racer Davy Jones should have been back in Indianapolis getting ready for the 500.

His housekeeper asked him how qualifying went and wished him good luck on Sunday. He played golf at Lake Tahoe Golf Course on Thursday, bringing back memories of the drivers’ tournament on the Tuesday before the race. On Internet, he saw that the Rick Galles Racing Team once again won the pit-stop competition as it did when he was driving for the team in 1996.

The 1996 Indianapolis 500 runner-up wants nothing more than to race Sunday, but it didn’t work out – this year.



“It’s diappointing that I’m not there driving, because I feel I deserve to be in the car. We just flat out ran out of time to get it done properly,” Jones said.

Two years of rehabilitation following his horrific crash at Walt Disney World Speedway in January 1997 have Jones anxiously awaiting his return to the Indy Racing League.



“It’s going to be tough watching. It’s in my heart to be in the car and out there racing on race day,” said Jones, who has recovered from torn neck ligaments and spinal nerve damage to resume his career.

He reacclimated himself to racing by competing in the 12 Hours of Seibring earlier this year. But as much as Jones wants to return to the racing loop, he understands that maybe it’s appropriate that he doesn’t compete this weekend.

“My feeling is that no matter how much confidence you have, you have to draw the line and respect that place. One might have the confidence, experience and professionalism to get in the car and do well, but you just can’t jump in the car and expect to perform miracles,” Jones said.

Business with Delco Electronics will take Jones back to Indianapolis for the race, but he won’t watch in person.

“I’ll be in a suite somewhere watching,” he said. “It’s disappointing in one respect that I’ve trained very hard and had a lot of motivation to be race ready, but on the other hand it wasn’t an ideal situation. We’ll work on that for next year.”

Who does Jones like on Sunday? Arie Luyendyk, who will be making his final appearance in the race.

“Arie is the most heads-up driver there. If he has a flawless race, he’s going to be very difficult to beat,” Jones said.

Just as Jones was in 1996 when he lost to Buddy Lazier by .6 of a second – the third-closest Indy in history.

drivers tournament on Tusday

he played on Thursday

first row dinner party

lastrow party, been to both, saw qualifyign, it’s not easy to get on the last row, It’s easier to get in front row than the last row.

no leaks, electrical failures and eveyrthing runs right, don’t want to put too many miles on

Rick Galles Racing won pit stop competition, we won it in 1996.

They kind of rul when it come sto pit stop comeptiton.

disappo that Im not there drigving, beacas i feel deserve to be in cart. we jsut flat out of time to get it done properly.

my feeling no matter how conf how much know you have and waht ting , yo have to draw the line respect that place. One might have conff get in car do well, exp, know and professioanllist, yu just cant’ jump in car and perform miracle.s

wasnt in positon in to cjump in car to do that.

testing.

so there’s next year.

INdy to do some work for Delco Electronic, it’s going to be tough, I’ts in my heart to be in car and outt here racing on race day.

suite somwhere watching.

It’s diapp one way, you train ery hard and lot of motiv to be race ready for that race, but sit wasnt ideal. we’ll work on for nesxt year.

“Lyendyk is most headsup driver there, it’s last race, nice to see that he’s on pole and greg Ray be veyr fast in manard car, it’s going to be vey close race.

SAlways somebody comes fro back of pack that has really god race, but if arie has flawless race he’s going to be very diff to beat.

there last two years, wasnt fit to race to be in car, new that can accept it, but this year fit and ready to go. otpo wasn’t ready, I’ll just give it another go in the future.

1996 runner-up.

“absoliutley, when I ‘m back at race track the fan support is tremendous. on ne had it gets very tiring, one had when se mee back in car, how come along, get tired trying toell them what’s happen in futre, because future is very unknown.

the support on ymy recovery ahs been overwhelmeing, reason been able to heal as well as I did.

torn ligaments and spinal nerve damage in neck. been rehabilitaton for two years.

1997, Jan., Fla., Walt Disney WOrd, first raceof seaon, third-clsest finish in indy, .6 of a second.

24 Hours Le Mans won, Porsche, meant to be good season in 1997 and I was injured.

hosecleaner, hope qualified for indy 500 and good luck. it was hesterical because it was ovoer. I’ve got lot


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