INDIANAPOLIS -- Josele Garza, the only foreign rookie to make the field for the Indianapolis 500, received a $1,500 award as fastest rookie of the year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Averaging 195.101 mph in his four-lap qualifying run, Garza was the fastest of 10 rookies eligible for Sunday's race.
He is the seventh recipient of the award. Previous winners were Tim Richmond last year, Howdy Holmes in 1979, Rick Mears 1978, Danny Ongais 1977, Billy Scott 1976, and Bill Puterbaugh 1975.
'It's difficult to arrive at Indianapolis and do well,' Garza said. He credited his mechanics with doing well with little guidance from him. 'I don't know too much about mechanics. I tell my crew chief how the car feels and if it feels funny, I tell him to fix it.'
Garza received the money and a plaque Tuesday from the American Dairy Association of Indiana. Garza has dairy business ties of his own. His family produces ice cream in Mexico.
There was no running on the track Tuesday and there will not be until the traditional carburetion tests Thursday -- the last pre-race shakedown for the 33-car starting field.
