Did John Andretti and the name Richard Petty bring bump day back into relevance?

yes they did now that was a good bump day!

Being at the track for over 15 years now I've seen the race loose relevance over all of those years. In reality I'd say no it doesn't really make a difference because A) it was only seen on Vs. B) I think we're just past the point of people caring about Indy 500 qualifying.

This is all really sad to me because this is the first time in a long time I've litterally screamed whilst watching Quals but I don't think enough people saw it and most that did probably didn't care.

This really is sad because I would argue that nowhere else is there a more tradition filled sporting event that means so much to so many people. Maybe with some exciting new cars in 2011 and new drivers winning people will start to notice us again,

I think what you saw was the culmination of how the new qualifying format was intended. This was the first time in 5 years the new format (Qualify 1st 11 on Pole Day, 2nd 11 on Day 2, 3rd 11 on Day 3, and then normal Bump Day - all cars w/ 3 chances per day) that we had cars running all four days.

Having both John Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay, both of whom were struggling for speed in the last weekend making close to banzai runs to bump their way in, knowing what was on the line, helped greatly. Andretti bringing Richard Petty Motorsports along for the ride this year (mind you, this a Dreyer-Reinbold car, not an RPM-specific car) really brought interest in that race team, and seeing the Richard Petty colors and symbolic #43 struggle and struggle and struggle until YAHTZEE! - in the field ... I can understand why the croud was into it. And RHR ... man, if America would wake up and get to know this kid, how could you NOT root for him. You could hear various emotions in his voice before/after his last run.

Who would have expected the 26th-place car at the end of Day 3 would be the car last bumped out of the field? No one - not even Tagliani & Bachelart. But - they get back in the field replacing Junqueria (I bet there's a honey-pot deal with Dale Coyne later this year for Bruno).

Outstanding Bump Day @ I.M.S. this year! Drama at its finest.

The Petty Andretti relationship may have brought attention to the casual fan, but Bump Day has been exciting prior to 2009. In 2008, Buddy Lazier, former winner and driver with the 8th most laps completed in the 500, went out to qualify for the underfunded Hemmelgarn team. The team had nothing left to change to the car - no more parts, equipment, etc. They took all the downforce out of the car and with pure guts, Lazier held on to the car without crashing and "bumped" his way in the field. Lazier previously had a broken back, and hadnt been in a race car in a year. I was on the edge of my seat.

Each year brings a new story, additional drama, and to the folks that are trying to make it into the field, Bump Day always matters.

This year's run wasn't just about John Andretti. How about after the gun had gone off (qualifying ended and no more cars could attempt), Ryan Hunter-Reay who had been bumped from the fieldearlier in the day, by the third of 4 qualifying laps, appeared too slow, and he was not going to make it back into the race. Alex Tagliani on the bubble was strapped in the car, next in line to qualify, and because time had expired, he would not get an attempt to requalify. Ryan squeezed out just enough speed on the final straightaway to make it into the field by .044 mph over the 4 lap, 10 mile run.

Ryan has a recent deal with sponsor Izod, drives for series owner Tony George, is teammate to Tony's stepson Ed Carpenter, and really felt the last 2 weeks that he was not being given the same level of equipment that Ed was getting. Ed even went out this weekend to test Ryan's car, and confirmed Ryan's feedback about the poor handling, even though the cars were supposedly identical.

Ryan doesnt have a big name like John Andretti, but wow, what drama as the gun went off, and a month of frustration was relieved for that driver.

Bump Day matters to those participants trying to participate in the world's greatest race.

Couldn't hurt, as the open wheel thing has been hurting for lack of a US driver to root for. Several years ago, I think Vassar won at ?Houston? and the winner's interviews were drowned out by the crowd chanting U-S-A. That should have given the entire Cart group the message that they needed to get US drivers running up front in good equipment. Got so bad that Tony George decided to start a series to give US drivers a chance. That series is looking a lot like the old Cart series again, with foreign drivers getting the best stuff again. John A. and his father Aldo, are products of good old American racing. Good racers, It's time the press and fans recognize them.

I agree, it has been somewhat diminished over the years.

Nobody cares about a month of testing and qualifying.

Mostly people only want to watch the race, then go home.

Bubble day has always had it's importance, but bringing Petty into it might just light a fire under it's.....

Well this yr atleast, we had a bump day with some excitement, I was nearly biting my fingernails hoping that John would get in, and Ryan Hunter-Reay that was scarey also. Yes we had a real bump day with some excitement..

Go Team Penske

The drama was manufactured...........

The Honda Engineers gave RHR & Andretti extra HP for their final runs and FTG gave Conquest extra $$ to keep Tags in the race.

I actually follow Bump Day more than Pole Day. Who doesn't want to see an underdog fight his way into the field?

Not really. I only care 'bout the guys and gals I support.