Hornish gathers $1.74 million

Schwartz Fan · 05-30-2006, 12:23 PM

Hornish gathers $1.74 million from record Indy purse
Updated 5/29/2006 10:55 PM ET
By Steve Herman, The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Sam Hornish Jr. more than doubled his career winnings, and runner-up Marco Andretti took home more money than either his father or grandfather ever won in the Indianapolis 500.

Hornish beat the 19-year-old Andretti by less than seven-hundredths of a second on Sunday — the second-closest margin in Indy history — and that blink-of-an-eye difference was worth $1,744,855 to Hornish from a record purse of $10.5 million.

"It's unbelievable," an emotional Hornish said Monday night at the annual victory dinner. "The past two days have been the best days of my life. I can't think of anything better than to be here, especially to go out there and race with 32 of the best race car drivers in the world.

"This is the greatest race track in the world. It's the thing that dreams are made of," he said.

The prize package, which included $9.5 million from the Indy Racing League, more than $900,000 in accessory awards and $90,000 in lap prizes. The previous record was $10.3 million last year.

Marco Andretti won $698,505, the second-highest for a non-winner, and became the fourth member of his family to be selected rookie of the year.

Hornish also received the annual Scott Brayton Award, named for the late driver who was killed in practice after winning the pole in 1996.

"I would have thought yesterday would have been the biggest days of my life," Hornish said, his voice cracking. "But it's things like this (Brayton Award) that really mean a lot ... because you don't have any choice. It's something other people see in you."

Hornish, whose best finish in six previous starts was 14th, raised his career total to more than $3.46 million.

The career record is more than $6.1 million by retired two-time winner Arie Luyendyk Sr., and the record for a single race is $1.76 million by Buddy Rice two years ago.

The most Andretti's father, Michael Andretti, ever won in one race was $607,753 as the runner-up in 1991; the most his grandfather, Mario, ever won was $368,063 for finishing ninth in 1987. His uncle, Jeff Andretti, had his best payday with $167,490 as a rookie in 1991.

''I finished second. It doesn't mean anything to me,'' Marco said of the money. ''First place is different.''

The only victory for the Andretti family in 55 combined starts was by Mario in 1969, when first place paid a measly — by today's standards — $206,727.

All but five of the 33 starters Sunday topped that.

Michael Andretti, who came out of a two-year retirement to drive in his son's rookie race, earned $480,105 for third place. Dan Wheldon, who won for Andretti Green Racing last year, switched to Ganassi Racing this season and finished fourth. His prize of $566,405 included $66,600 for leading 148 of the 200 laps.

Tony Kanaan, the third Andretti Green driver among the front-runners, finished fifth and won $340,405. Ganassi's Scott Dixon pocketed $361,005 for sixth, Andretti Green's Dario Franchitti won $307,905 for seventh, and Rahal Letterman's Danica Patrick received $285,805.

Patrick won $378,855 last year, when she led 19 laps and finished fourth, the best ever by a woman.

Among other prizes this year, former winner Buddy Lazier received $274,805 for 12th, joining Luyendyk and Al Unser Jr. as the only $5 million Indy-career winners. Unser's 24th-place finish was worth $200,305, raising his career total to $5.8 million, while Lazier's winnings put him at $5.1 million.

Two-time winner Helio Castroneves, who won $280,355 for 25th, is fourth in career winnings with $4.5 million.

The smallest prize from Sunday's race was $192,305 for 30th place by Larry Foyt, son of four-time winner A.J. Foyt.

The only others with winnings below $200,000 were Tomas Scheckter, who finished 27th; Arie Luyendyk Jr., 28th; Stephan Gregoire, 29th; and Jeff Bucknum, 32nd. Last place paid $216,555 to rookie P.J. Chesson, who celebrated qualifying last week by getting a tattoo.

''A boy like me with that kind of cash can get himself in a lot of trouble,'' Chesson said.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor...e_x.htm?csp=34

05-30-2006, 12:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Schwartz Fan Co-Administrator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The flatlands...Where dirt is for farming, clay is for racin' and asphalt is for gettin there!!! Posts: 7,437	Hornish gathers $1.74 million Hornish gathers $1.74 million from record Indy purse Updated 5/29/2006 10:55 PM ET By Steve Herman, The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — Sam Hornish Jr. more than doubled his career winnings, and runner-up Marco Andretti took home more money than either his father or grandfather ever won in the Indianapolis 500. Hornish beat the 19-year-old Andretti by less than seven-hundredths of a second on Sunday — the second-closest margin in Indy history — and that blink-of-an-eye difference was worth $1,744,855 to Hornish from a record purse of $10.5 million. "It's unbelievable," an emotional Hornish said Monday night at the annual victory dinner. "The past two days have been the best days of my life. I can't think of anything better than to be here, especially to go out there and race with 32 of the best race car drivers in the world. "This is the greatest race track in the world. It's the thing that dreams are made of," he said. The prize package, which included $9.5 million from the Indy Racing League, more than $900,000 in accessory awards and $90,000 in lap prizes. The previous record was $10.3 million last year. Marco Andretti won $698,505, the second-highest for a non-winner, and became the fourth member of his family to be selected rookie of the year. Hornish also received the annual Scott Brayton Award, named for the late driver who was killed in practice after winning the pole in 1996. "I would have thought yesterday would have been the biggest days of my life," Hornish said, his voice cracking. "But it's things like this (Brayton Award) that really mean a lot ... because you don't have any choice. It's something other people see in you." Hornish, whose best finish in six previous starts was 14th, raised his career total to more than $3.46 million. The career record is more than $6.1 million by retired two-time winner Arie Luyendyk Sr., and the record for a single race is $1.76 million by Buddy Rice two years ago. The most Andretti's father, Michael Andretti, ever won in one race was $607,753 as the runner-up in 1991; the most his grandfather, Mario, ever won was $368,063 for finishing ninth in 1987. His uncle, Jeff Andretti, had his best payday with $167,490 as a rookie in 1991. ''I finished second. It doesn't mean anything to me,'' Marco said of the money. ''First place is different.'' The only victory for the Andretti family in 55 combined starts was by Mario in 1969, when first place paid a measly — by today's standards — $206,727. All but five of the 33 starters Sunday topped that. Michael Andretti, who came out of a two-year retirement to drive in his son's rookie race, earned $480,105 for third place. Dan Wheldon, who won for Andretti Green Racing last year, switched to Ganassi Racing this season and finished fourth. His prize of $566,405 included $66,600 for leading 148 of the 200 laps. Tony Kanaan, the third Andretti Green driver among the front-runners, finished fifth and won $340,405. Ganassi's Scott Dixon pocketed $361,005 for sixth, Andretti Green's Dario Franchitti won $307,905 for seventh, and Rahal Letterman's Danica Patrick received $285,805. Patrick won $378,855 last year, when she led 19 laps and finished fourth, the best ever by a woman. Among other prizes this year, former winner Buddy Lazier received $274,805 for 12th, joining Luyendyk and Al Unser Jr. as the only $5 million Indy-career winners. Unser's 24th-place finish was worth $200,305, raising his career total to $5.8 million, while Lazier's winnings put him at $5.1 million. Two-time winner Helio Castroneves, who won $280,355 for 25th, is fourth in career winnings with $4.5 million. The smallest prize from Sunday's race was $192,305 for 30th place by Larry Foyt, son of four-time winner A.J. Foyt. The only others with winnings below $200,000 were Tomas Scheckter, who finished 27th; Arie Luyendyk Jr., 28th; Stephan Gregoire, 29th; and Jeff Bucknum, 32nd. Last place paid $216,555 to rookie P.J. Chesson, who celebrated qualifying last week by getting a tattoo. ''A boy like me with that kind of cash can get himself in a lot of trouble,'' Chesson said. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor...e_x.htm?csp=34 __________________

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