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Rookies Take Part In Indy Orientation Program

Last updated on Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Most of the rookies are ready to go for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500.

This year's rookies took to the track Monday to complete the Rookie Orientation Program at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Jack Hawksworth, who raced at IMS in the Firestone Freedom 100 last year for the Indy Lights series, says going around IMS in an IndyCar is much faster but getting through the Rookie Orientation Program was easy.

Mikhail Aleshin with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports also said his ROP was relatively easy and once he passed the program, he was able to get up to about 219 miles per hour. Aleshin says he's excited to compete in his first oval race at IMS.

NASCAR driver Kurt Busch passed his ROP last week but took extra laps Monday to continue to get used to driving in an IndyCar. He says he's feeling more comfortable each time he gets into the car.

Carlos Huertas and Martin Plowman also completed their programs Monday.

Last year's Indy Lights Champion Sage Karam was the only rookie to not complete the program due to a mechanical issue. He'll have a chance to complete his program on the first day of Indy 500 practice this Sunday.

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