MAY 9, 2003

Button rival showing them the way at Indianapolis

Dan Wheldon was named in February as the man who would take over from Michael Andretti when he retired from the Indy Racing League after the Indianapolis 500. The last few days have seen Wheldon testing for the event along with all the other big players and he has been the one setting the pace, recording a best lap on Thursday of 232.202mph, the fastest lap at the Speedway since 1996.

The 24-year-old rookie , who was a rival of Jenson Button in Formula Ford, will attempt on Saturday to become the first British driver to take pole for the Indianapolis 500 since Nigel Mansell did it in 1994.

"It's nothing really to get excited about until Saturday," Wheldon remarked. "But if I can pull this off on Saturday, then I'll be really popular."