225mph – but we want to go faster!

RIGHT ON TRACK ... Justin Wilson is targeting a top-10 finish

INDYCAR star Justin Wilson has told of the daunting challenge of this weekend’s Indianapolis 500 — at a track where drivers hurtle into corners at 225mph. 

In a special preview exclusively for SunSport, the lanky Yorkshireman recounted his best and worst experiences at IndyCar’s blue riband event. 

Wilson, winner of the presigious Daytona 24-hour race earlier this year, told of his hopes for at least a top-10 finish. 

And he revealed there will be moving tributes to the British winner of last year’s 500, Dan Wheldon — killed months later in IndyCar’s finale at Las Vegas. 

Fans will be given white sunglasses in cardboard styled like the ones Dan used to wear. And his winning orange and white car will be paraded by team owner and good friend Bryan Herta. 

SunSport asked Honda-powered Dale Coyne Racing driver Wilson a dozen crucial questions about “the world’s greatest race”. And here are his answers... 

SunSport: What makes the Indianapolis 500 so special?

Justin Wilson: For me there are two things. The first is the speed. An F1 car will reach 225mph on the straight at Monza, but Indianapolis is the only place in the world where you turn into a corner at 225mph! We are full throttle in sixth gear. The second and biggest thing is the fans. There is nothing quite like being on the starting grid of the Indy 500. Around 300,000 fans on race day is typical and the grandstands are full with people for as far as you can see in any direction. The atmosphere is electrifying. Having that many people there lets you know that this race really means something. It’s a chance to be more than just a race winner, it’s a chance to be the hero, having to battle against the odds and come out on top. 

Sun: What is more important to a driver — winning the 500 or the IndyCar championship?

JW: Winning the 500. It’s what IndyCar is all about.

STEP TO IT ... Justin Wilson climbs from his cockpit

Sun: What is your best memory of the Indy 500?

JW: Leading the race with ten laps to go in 2010. Mike Conway (my team mate at the time) and I were on different strategies and we led from lap 170 to 190. We had an extra stop to make but it was fun while it lasted. 

Sun: ... and your worst?

JW: Again in 2010, two laps from the end when I saw Mike crash and the car took off into the fencing. There was nothing left of the car and you automatically think there’s no way anyone can survive that impact. But he did and he’s racing again this year. 

Sun: You’ll be lapping at an AVERAGE speed of around 225mph. Does it FEEL that fast?

JW: Only when you’re trying to stop and it takes forever! You do get used to the speed and you focus on other things, like how to go even faster! 

Sun: You are driving for one of IndyCar’s smaller teams, Dale Coyne Racing, against the likes of giants Ganassi and Penske. Is the 500 a great equaliser or do teams with the biggest budget have an advantage?

JW: The biggest teams with the most resources definitely have the edge but at Indy anything can happen. We all believe we have a chance of winning at the start of the race. It’s another reason that makes the 500 so special.

ON TARGET ... Dario Franchitti pulls into the pits

Sun: Without giving too much away, what will be your tactics during the race. Just flat-out from the off or a more measured approach?

JW: I like to do a little of both. If I can, I will run flat-out for the first 20 laps to try to make some ground, then it’s a case of being smart and calculating to make small positive progress to get inside the top 10. With eight or nine pit stops and 500 miles there is plenty of time to screw things up, so you have to keep calm and let the race unfold. There is no time for cruising at Indy, though, the pace will be strong and you have to keep up. 

Sun: A lot of people think Indy is particularly dangerous, given the high speeds and walls lining the track. Is that opinion shared by the drivers?

JW: Motor racing is dangerous but it has never been safer in the history of the sport. We have a new car this year and it has added protection. There is more padding behind our backs, under our seats and around our head. The SAFER barrier around the track has been specially designed to reduce the impact. We are not kidding ourselves though. If you hit the wall at 225mph it’s going to hurt. 

Sun: Of course you’d like to win, but what would you consider a “good” result?

JW: I think if we finish in the top ten I will be able to sleep on Sunday night. We would call a great result fifth or better. But anything other than first will have us analysing how we can do things better so we can win next time. 

Sun: If you don’t win, who do you think will, and why?

JW: Right now if I had to put money on someone I would go with Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and Ryan Hunter-Reay. They have all been fast and most importantly good in traffic. From those three Ryan has been the strongest this year so he’s my pick.

THAT'S FOR STARTERS ... front-row drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay, James Hinchcliffe and polesitter Ryan Briscoe

Sun: Did you talk to JR Hildebrand after he crashed at the final bend on the last lap while leading last year? If so, what did he say and how did he feel?

JW: I spoke to him but he wasn’t saying much as he was shell-shocked. He was obviously gutted but I told him people have raced at Indy more than ten times and never finished as high as second, while he did it in his rookie year with only two wheels. He has been fast again this year and so has Joseph Newgarden. Newgarden led the first few days of practice, impressive for a rookie. But this place does have a habit of making rookies learn the hard way. 

Sun: Is any remembrance of last year’s winner Dan Wheldon planned?

JW: IndyCar and the Speedway want to celebrate Dan and what he was like, so rather than a minute’s silence they are giving everyone a pair of white cardboard sunglasses like the ones he used to wear. Bryan Herta, who was the team owner Dan drove for last year, will drive Dan’s 2011 winning car on the parade and pace laps. Bryan was Dan’s friend and Andretti Green team-mate from 2003-05. IndyCar are also putting Dan’s image on the race tickets and on the technical inspection stickers that all the cars will carry.