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MAY 21, 2001

Its official: Cody Witherill will be racing in the Indianapolis 500.

After a number of close calls on the track last month and during the past couple of weeks, the 29-year-old Navajo driver on Sunday qualified 32nd on the grid for the 85th Indy 500. He almost didn't make the cut, however, and was the second slowest racer to qualify.

But with a speed of 221.621 mph, the Indy rookie is still faster than the average rez car driver. While fending off challenges from other drivers, his #16 WSA/Motors/Indy Regency Racing car maintained the high speeds for a grueling 2.42 hours, long enough to make anyone get weary.

Yet Witherill will be doing it all over again next Sunday when he competes for the first time in the Indy 500. He isn't the first Native American to do so, though, following in the footsteps of Joie Chitwood, a Cherokee Nation driver who competed in the Indy seven times during the 1940s.

The significance isn't lost on Witherill, who enjoys being a role model for young Native Americans. Along with friend and fellow barrier-breaker Isleta Pueblo / Navajo golfer Notah Begay III, the pair are among the most visible Natives in the sports field today.

Witherill has been racing in the Indy Lights circuit since 1998, making some notable starts in his first year out. The circuit is considered the training grounds for the Indy Racing League, where he made his debut in Atlanta last month.

It wasn't an easy entrance and he set off an 11-car crash at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on April 28. No one was injured, however, and Witherill managed to finish 22nd out of 27.

He then began practice runs for the Indy 500, which has been one of his long-time goals. He missed securing a spot in the Indy last week as one of his qualifying attempts wasn't recorded due to a mix-up at the track.

Witherill didn't view the mishap as a setback, returning to the track yesterday to qualify for the race, which will take place May 27, beginning at 11 AM Eastern Standard Time in Indianapolis, Indiana. The event is sold out but will be televised on ABC beginning at Noon.

Witherill is a member of the Indy Regency Racing team.

Relevant Links:
Indy 500 - http://www.indy500.com
Indy Racing League - http://www.indyracingleague.com
Cory Witherill Bio, Indy Lights - http://www.indylights.com/global/drivers/
cWLL/ILCdpDRIVER_cWLLBIO_WFC.html
Indy Regency Racing - http://www.indyregencyracing.com

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