The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page D1

SECTION THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2008 Sports Franklin Central's Bade picks Purdue Junior calls Boilers "best fit." ds What kind of player is he? Find out at http: blogs.indystar.compreps pINDY500 RACE DAY 1 1 P.M. SUNDAY COLTS SEASON TICKETS More seats? Waiting list isn't much shorter Some fans are frustrated after getting hopes up with bigger stadium By Mike Chappell mike.chappellindystar.com To some fans sitting impatiently on the Indianapolis Colts' season ticket waiting list, the math just doesn't compute. The Lucas Oil Stadium, the state-of-the-art facility set to open in August, has 6,000 more seats than the RCA Dome, yet that hasn't translated into much movement on the waiting list. Jeremy Hoffer, 28, a lifelong Colts fan since growing up in Fort Wayne, said he was "roughly 2,800 on the waiting list" and optimistic he would make a major move up perhaps even get the opportunity to buy a season ticket. "I was really upset to learn I only moved up a couple of hundred spots," he said.

In fact, said Larry Hall, the Colts' vice president of ticket operations, about 100 to 125 people moved off the waiting list into actual season seats. Hall and others with the Colts say the See Wait, Page D9 HEATHER CHARLES The Star IN THE FIELD: Oriol Servia signs autographs Wednesday at the Speedway. It has taken Servia a decade to go from a test driver to finally qualifying for the 500. Along the way, he has been helped by drivers Fermin Velez, Cristiano da Matta and Tony Kanaan. Senna's long journey from Spain to Indy Decade-long trek took a little help from his racing friends WHAT'S YOUR TAKE? Go to the online version of this story at IndyStar.comcolts and share your opinion.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE Gates open: 9 a.m. -6 p.m. Indy Lights practice: a.m. Indy Lights qualifying: 1:15 p.m. FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE Gates open: 8 a.m.

-6 p.m. IndyCar practice: 11 a.m.-noon. Indy Lights Freedom 100: 1:30 p.m. Pit stop challenge: p.m. Carb Day concert: 3:30 p.m.

SPECIAL COVERAGE The Star's Carb Day special section coming Friday gives you a look at the 7 next generation of Indy By Phillip B. Wilson phillip.wilsonindystar.com Oriol Servia's circuitous journey from Spain to Indianapolis required lots of assistance from his racing friends. Fermin Velez made a call to help a fellow Spaniard get a test drive. Tony Kanaan took Servia on the road to races and told him to never give up. A decade later, Servia makes his Indianapolis 500 debut Sunday from the inside of row nine in KV Racing Technology's No.

5 car. Just the second Spaniard to make the 500, he is indebted to the first. Velez, who raced at Indy in 1996 and '97, arranged for Servia's test that led to an Indy Lights series ride in 1998. Unfortunately, Velez didn't live to see his protege make it to Indy. He died after a lengthy bout with cancer in 2003.

But Servia is honored to continue the legacy. "The reason I'm here is him," Servia said of Velez. "I called him. I didn't know him much, but knew him a little bit. I told him I was going to be here, if he heard of something, to let me know.

"Wherever he is, in whatever shape or form, he's happy I'm here. He supported me the first couple years I was here in the U.S. He would come to the races and be proud. I'm sure he's watching." Servia's other good friend, Kanaan, will be keeping an eye on him on track. Kanaan's Andretti Green No.

11 car starts on the outside of row two. The two met through a mutual friend, driver Cristiano da Matta. Kanaan admits he thought Servia was cocky at first. They eventually became stars with the names Foyt, Andretti and Ra-hal. Sunday's Indianapolis 500 special section gets you ready for the race and takes you in side the fast-paced world of Danica Patrick.

GREG GRIFFO The Star SPANISH HERITAGE: Oriol Servia's helmet is covered by a tribute to a fellow Spaniard, surrealist painter Salvador Dali. INDIANA BASKETBALL Was Sampson monitored zealously? IU's supervision of a coach previously under fire may be questioned at NCAA hearing By Mark Alesia mark.alesiaindystar.com When the NCAA committee on infractions sanctioned Long Beach State's men's basketball team in March, its report said circumstances should have put school administrators "on high alert" for misconduct. Partly because of that, the committee made a "failure to monitor" finding against the school, even though that wasn't among the original charges by the NCAA enforcement staff, which acts as prosecutor. Such reasoning, as well as the committee's power to add charges, could give pause to fans of Indiana University as the school prepares for its infractions hearing June 13 in Seattle. IU is accused of five potentially major rules violations in its men's basketball program.

Those do not include failure to See Indiana, Page D9 "He obviously went through a hard time not having a job and I took him under my wings, in a sense like, 'Come to the races with Servia learned what it took to be a champion. Kanaan won the Indy Lights crown. "I taught him to keep up. Don't give See Servia, Page D5 close. Before Velez made that career-changing call, Kanaan took Servia on race road trips in 1997.

They shared hotel rooms and worked out together. "Did he tell you how we hated each other in the beginning?" the Brazilian asked, smiling. "Oriol came across as a very cocky Spanish guy. We did not speak for almost a year, but then we became really close because of Cristiano. "Wherever he is, in whatever shape or form, he's happy I'm here.

He supported me the first couple years I was here in the U.S. I'm sure he's watching." Oriol Servia, on Fermin Velez, the first Spanish driver in the 500 who died of cancer in 2003 ACTION HERO WORSHIP Andretti catches up on Indiana Jones DANCING INTO TOWN Yamaguchi will do the wave Figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi (left) will wave the green flag to start the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500. Fresh off her "Dancing With The Stars" championship, she will be the first female honorary starter in 500 history. She replaces boxer Floyd Mayweather himself for Sunday's Indianapolis 500, he has also been studying Indiana Jones. "Every time I walk into my bus, I've had one of them playing all month," said Andretti, who starts his third 500 from the inside of row three.

"The movies are classics." Phillip B. Wilson His race car promotes the new "Indiana Jones" movie, although 21-year-old Marco Andretti was born six years after actor Harrison Ford brought the action adventure hero to life in 1981. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" opens today in theaters. While Andretti has been preparing who withdrew due to a death in his family. :,4 mmwm LIP I ICE COLD! WJM 1 Yellow Tail I 4 6 i a ALL flavors two for 1 i5L Our beer is COLD, Grocery store beer is Drink it COLD! 3.