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Last updated on Monday, May 11, 2009
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Rookie Raphael Matos turned in the fastest qualifying run on day two of time trials at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Matos' four-lap effort of 223.429 miles an hour puts the Luczo Dragon Racing machine on the outside of row four for the May 24th Indianapolis 500.
Matos is the lone rookie in the field that currently stands at 22 cars.
It took three attempts, but Scott Sharp finally got his car into the field for the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
Sharp withdrew the time for his first qualifying run just before he would have been bumped from the field.
Sharp requalified during the final hour of time trials, but the speed was slow enough to put him right back on the bubble, where he was bumped by AJ Foyt the fourth.
Sharp pulled his number-16 panther racing car onto the track for a third attempt seconds before the gun went off to end the day's qualifying and turned in a speed of 222.162 miles an hour, good for the 20th starting spot.
Sharp wanted to qualify during the first weekend because he has a commitment in the American Lemans Series this coming weekend.
It was a rough day at the brickyard for Dreyer and Reinbold racing.
The bad news started during morning practice when rookie driver Mike Conway spun in turn one and backed his car into the safer barrier.
Conway was admitted to Methodist Hospital with bruised lungs and is listed in good condition.
The team's other three drivers, Milka Duno, Davey Hamilton and John Andretti, completed qualification runs, but Duno and Andretti were bumped from the field.
Duno did not make an attempt to bump her way back in while Andretti couldn't after crashing his car in turn one late in the afternoon.
Andretti was not injured.
The speedway is closed until Thursday, when practice will resume for the final two days of time trials on Saturday and Sunday.
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