Toyota began competing in Indycar just two years ago, in 2003. That first year they found much success against Chevrolet, winning the manufacturer's championship as well as the Indy 500 in their first attempt! But then Honda came along and have been pushing Toyota around ever since. Toyota has been pushing its way into the Nascar Truck series. Perhaps they're gearing up for a run at the Nextel Cup stock car series.

The 40 main Nextel Cup drivers average 174.2 pounds, from Jason Leffler (130) to Mike Wallace (220).

The 25 IRL drivers average 148.4, from Danica Patrick (100) to Sam Hornish Jr. and Ed Carpenter (165).

"She's usually more trouble when she's ahead of me by the looks of Indy," Scheckter said jokingly after earning his third Texas pole. "She should be fine...I've got no problem racing with her."

This is Scheckter's 3rd pole at Texas - in a row!

Patrick had a qualifying lap of 212.661 mph on the 1 1/2-mile, high-banked Texas track, where she had never driven before two practice sessions earlier in the day.

Patrick will take the green flag ahead of both her Rahal Letterman teammates. Vitor Meira qualified fifth and Buddy Rice was seventh.

Instead of Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon, Sports Illustrated made Patrick the first Indy driver on the magazine's cover in 20 years.

"If I owned Sports Illustrated, you've got 33 drivers in the Indianapolis 500, and one's female and hot, why wouldn't you put her on the front page?" Wheldon said. "You'd be stupid not to."

Two-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves wore one of Patrick's T-shirts at an autograph session this week in Texas, where some fans waited in line more than 10 hours for her signature.

And Patrick's image is being painted on an 800-squre-foot mural over the marquee outside of Texas Motor Speedway, and hanging more than 50 feet above the ground along busy Interstate 35.

"The biggest thing for me is the self-satisfaction of winning the race," Wheldon said. "I don't care about who gets the most attention. I've achieved something that's very special to me."

With 12 of 17 races still left, Wheldon is already going for his fifth win of the season. That would match the series record set by Sam Hornish Jr. when he won his second straight IRL title in 2002.

The starting position isn't a concern. Wheldon rolled off the grid 16th at Indianapolis and his best start was second at Phoenix, the only race he didn't win this season.

Schumacher, 36, moved near Lake Geneva in 1996 to dodge Germany's 42% income tax. He now pays about 4% ($2m) of his $50m income to the Swiss government. High profile millionaires and Swiss residents like Jackie Stewart, Boris Becker, David Bowie, Celine Dion and Roger Moore also would be affected.

MICHELIN EXTENDS GESTURE TO F1 SPECTATORS AT U.S. GRAND PRIX

Michelin wishes to make a sincere gesture towards people present at Formula One Grand Prix in Indianapolis by offering to refund tickets.

INDIANAPOLIS (June 28, 2005) – One week after the Indianapolis Grand Prix, Michelin wishes to make a sincere gesture of goodwill towards the people present at the GP, a group whose passion for F1 is encouraging in the development of this sport in the United States.

Therefore, on our own initiative and in total solidarity with our partners, we have made two decisions: Michelin has decided to contribute to the costs incurred by the spectators present at the circuit on Sunday, June 19, 2005, by offering to refund their tickets. This is an important decision, since Michelin is not at all legally bound to do this.

Michelin deeply regrets that the public was deprived of an exciting race and therefore wishes to be the first, among the different groups involved in the Indianapolis race, to make a strong gesture towards the spectators.

Michelin also offers to buy 20,000 tickets for the 2006 U.S. Grand Prix to be given to spectators who were present at the Indianapolis race in 2005. We are offering this to further promote Formula 1 interest in the United States.

We would also like to take this opportunity to underline the fact that it is unacceptable that our partner teams have been accused by the FIA of having boycotted the Indianapolis Grand Prix. The reality is that together, Michelin and its partners, have done everything possible to assure that the race could take place in total safety.

We are extremely disappointed that the proposals made with all our teams were not accepted. These proposals, including a chicane, were technically viable and totally met all safety requirements. On Sunday morning, June 19, the sporting authority had all the means necessary to preserve the interest of the race.

And yet, the sporting authority rejected the proposed solutions. Why? In our view this is totally incomprehensible and reflects a lack of respect for the spectators.

It is the spirit of respect for the spectators that brought us, with our partners, to propose solutions to allow the race to take place in total safety. It is this same spirit that leads us today to make this gesture.

Beneath it all, though, there are deeper and darker political issues. The manufacturers, who want to break away and form their own grand prix world championship, have been handed more ammunition. Only Ferrari have signed up to carry on with Mosley, Ecclestone and the FIA when the Concorde Agreement runs out at the end of the 2007 season.

The split is growing deeper and Ecclestone, old Mr Snapfinger himself, was powerless to do anything about events last Sunday. Instead it was Mosley snapping his fingers and suggesting that Michelin should compensate the U.S. fans.

The sport has been accused of behaving arrogantly, declining to promote itself aggressively in the U.S., refusing to make its drivers accessible to media and fans.

"I've got to think these guys just don't get it," said Jim Liberatore, the outgoing president of Speed Channel.

Even track officials at Indianapolis have complained. In 2000, Mari Hulman George, the chairman of the board and mother of Speedway president Tony George, tried to enter her private suite for the U.S. Grand Prix and was told she lacked the proper credentials.

"I own this place," she reportedly said. To which a Formula One security guard replied: "Not today you don't."

Bernie Ecclestone, the billionaire who owns the rights to the circuit and serves as its controlling figure, did not help matters last week when he mused about Indy car driver Danica Patrick, the rookie sensation who placed fourth in the recent Indianapolis 500.

"She did a good job, didn't she? Super. Didn't think she'd be able to make it like that," Ecclestone told a gathering of reporters. He added: "You know, I've got one of these wonderful ideas that women should all be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances."

While that comment might not have endeared him to American fans, the Formula One chief seems to appreciate the potential for marketing his sport in the U.S. and was distraught by what happened Sunday.

"I'm furious with the stupidity," he told the London Times, adding later: "We were just starting to build a great image in the USA on television and with the fans, and that just went out the window."

Leading carmakers, such as BMW, Mercedes, and Toyota, who try to sell cars in the United States through the halo effect of competing in Formula One, will find the travesty that they took part in on Sunday will tarnish their images in the world’s biggest marketplace for years to come.

This is how some of the bill could break down:

$16 million — For the 120,000 spectators who want their money back. If refunds get offered.

$25 million — The sum that the Speedway is believed to have paid for the annual franchise. Such is the shock at what happened, the management seems unlikely to renew its contract with Bernie Ecclestone’s Formula One Management company for a race in 2006.

$10 million — The amount the Speedway is estimated to spend on transporting an average of 50 staff and tons of equipment to North America, shared with Canada.

$220 million — The loss of revenue for the city of Indianapolis if future races are cancelled. Thousands of tourists who spend on hotel bills and fill restaurants for almost a week give the city its biggest income from a single event.

Incalculable — The huge knock-on from disgruntled sponsors who will probably want compensation for not seeing their cars on the track. BAR Honda were faced with paying back about $11 million to sponsors when they were banned from the Monaco Grand Prix this year and the consequences of the US race could be as great for the leading teams among the seven who refused to take part on Sunday. It is not known what the total will be, but the blue-chip companies represented included the Royal Bank of Scotland, which sponsors BMW-Williams, and British American Tobacco, backer of BAR Honda.

Between them, sponsors invited thousands of corporate guests, many of whom were given a police escort to the Speedway on Sunday morning. After witnessing a single lap, they were left to find their own way home as the motorcycle police were diverted to help to marshall angry crowds demanding their money back.

First it was Nascar boys, and now even billionaire egomaniacs feel threatened by Danica! While she probably out weighs him, I'd like to see him get in a car and try racing her.

The tires were there, ready to be used!

This mass forfeiture left the Ferraris to compete with the two slowest teams in Formula One, Jordan and Minardi, all of which run on Bridgestone tires. The rest of the teams never showed up and the two Ferrari cars basically just raced each other. It was so stupid it was an insult to the intelligence of everyone involved! There was one exciting moment however when Schumacher came out of the pits and almost collided with his teammate, forcing Rubens into the grass.

Lack of compromise shows not only that the FIA and F1 could care less about the American market. Pride and greed prevented any compromise. Their williness to waste perhaps millions of hours of the spectators time and money reminds me of the mindset of terrorists and Enron executives.

I want a refund, but from F1, not IMS. If I were Tony George, I might have shown less restraint and stopped the race after the first lap and tried to force the FIA to allow new tires for everyone. George took the safe and legal way out and let F1 run their show. After spending so many millions of his own money to bring F1 to Indianapolis, no one has been hurt more than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Tony George.

Read other fan's feelings on the subject at Speak Out and Grandprix.com

Formula One had two practice sessions today. The biggest crash of the day was when Ralf Schumacher spun and hit the wall in Turn 13. This time he hit the Safer Barrier, that was extended this year because of his crash in this area last year. He says he feels fine but the FIA is forcing him to sit out from racing this weekend. Ricardo Zonta will fill in for him.

2000 Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya ran the fastest today in both sessions. He lapped the 13-turn, 2.605-mile road circuit in 1 minute, 11.118 seconds, 131.860 mph during the second session -- the top lap of the day.

An IPS car flipped when it hit the gravel trap. Marco Andretti won the pole position for Saturday's IPS race.

None of Jordon Grand Prix Tteam's drivers have ever raced on the Indianapolis roadcourse. Narain Karthikeyan, Tiago Monteiro and test driver Robert Doornbos.

The BMW WilliamsF1 Team has new engines for Indy. Indy is normally a two-stop race, but that may change if their new Michelin tires work well. The BMW Motorsports director said, "The U.S. is the biggest export market for BMW. In terms of sales volume, it currently lies in second place behind the German home market. There is a keen interest in the sporty M models here, nowhere else sells as many of the BMW M cars as in the United States."

The engine technical director for Toyota says, "The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the toughest circuits on the calendar for the engine department... the 1km banked straight which links the final corner of the preceding lap and the first corner of the next means that we are running the engine at max power for almost 24 seconds without a break." Expect to find driver Jarno Trulli, who is in third place in the standings, to be hanging out at the Slippery Noodle Inn listening to blues in the evenings.

In regard to the U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis, points leader Fernando Alonso said, "Without a doubt, it would be one of the best possible races to win a Grand Prix. In terms of the circuit itself, it is a bit complex and there are some very contrasting sections: very high speed straights, and very, very slow corners. You have to be really careful when you are selecting the set-up." The Renault F1 Team has released their test driver to compete in the 24 Hours of LeMans and will be substituting Heikki Kovalainen at Indy.

At BAR Honda, driver Takuma Sato said, "I have great memories from Indianapolis in 2004 as I got my first podium at the race last year. I am very much looking forward to getting back to Indy next weekend and I think we will be competitive." Briton Jenson Button said, "The Brickyard is a very slow circuit. I prefer fast flowing circuits...the crowd are always very supportive." 2003 Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran is now the sporting director at BAR.

Willy Rampf, technical director for Team Sauber Petronas, relates, "The surface is quite abrasive... that can affect tire wear. The infield is very tight - the drivers get into first gear there three times a lap." Jacques Villeneuve, 1995 Indy 500 Winner, enjoys returning to Indy, "Because the atmosphere outside of the paddock is always great. It feels a bit like a home Grand Prix because the number of Canadian fans that come and the many supporters that I still have around the USA after my time in IndyCar there and winning the Indy 500. Obviously, the track brings some good memories, so I am always happy to race there." Felipe Massa didn't get past the first turn last year in his first visit to the Indy Speedway. He said, "I like Indianapolis. You are conscious of being somewhere special, with a big history, racing in front of knowledgeable fans who really love their motor racing."

Red Bull Racing has been searching for an American driver for several years. American Scott Speed was their test driver last week in Canada where he drove faster than either regular drivers (Coulthard and Klein) in Friday practice before crashing. He'll be back this Friday driving at Indy. "At the moment, it's all about getting used to the car's set-up, as it's so different to anything else I've driven," said Speed.