Qualifications for Little 500 Saturday

Saturday could determine the future for the potential riders of Little 500, but it's not likely. \nThe first leg of the Little 500 begins this weekend, beginning with qualifications at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The quals, for many riders, are a chance to get on the track and start the next four weeks of preparation until race day April 19 and 20.\nFor others, the qualification time could determine their performance come race day.\n"The thing about quals day is that anything can happen; people are just excited about getting into the race," IU Student Foundation assistant director and Little 500 coordinator Alex Ihnen said. "Many of the riders know that they are going to be in the race and they all try to get a good time. This is the first event of the semester and many people are nervous because there are not any other teams around; on quals day you are the only thing on the stage."\nThe first team to compete on its first of three possible attempts begins at 8 a.m., and the last team vying for a spot rides at 4:15 p.m. Each team has only three chances at qualifying for the race, which is based on times established throughout the day. \nThe time each team ends with determines its position on the track during the women's race April 19 and the men's race the next day. \nThe best men's and women's qualifying times for the day will receive the "pole position." This coveted position gives the riding team an advantage over all other teams and usually helps riders escape early race collisions. \nThe pole position is the inside of the first row. The team with the second best qualifying time receives a spot in the middle of the first row, and the third team will be placed on the outside of the first row. \nAll other teams follow behind until 11 rows have been established, Ihnen said.\nFor both the men's and women's races, only 33 teams can compete; omitting seven teams from the men's group but none from the women's. The women only have 30 teams competing. \nFor many men's teams, the thought of missing qualification is not a factor.\n"It's not that big of a deal; it's four laps," senior Phi Gamma Delta rider Todd Cornelius said. "I expect the team to do well, but I could care less about getting the pole. I want to get into the race and get it over with. Our qual went really smoothly last year, and that's what I hope for this year."\nWhile many teams have blocked out the pressures of the qualifying time, others don't have time or experience from previous years to calm their nerves. \nSt. Paul Catholic Center's all-rookie team, God Speed, has high expectations despite its lack of experience and a coaching staff.\n"For the most part, none of us have been cycling before," freshman Jonathan Peregrino said. "I started in May, but most of us have been throwing things together. We don't have a coach, which is interesting too.\n"We are pretty prepared for what we have gotten into. We have gotten comments on how well the exchanges are, especially for an all-rookie team. It's just been the nervousness for the unknown. We really don't know what to expect from it."\nIhnen said that each team has a different strategy. Many believe the best times come when the track has been rolled and watered so it's in the best shape and packed down to avoid a loose track.\nThe luck of the draw and time of day is one thing that teams focus on while preparing for qualifications day. Others makes sure their team is ready for the pressures that go along with the day. Independent team Road Runners only returns one rider from its 2001 first-place team. The stress of having three rookie riders under her wing hasn't fazed sophomore Jenn Wangerin's determination to have a good qualifying time.\n"My teammates are all still fairly new to cycling, especially with Little 5. It's different than riding a bike," she said. "Having rookies on the team has been a challenge for quals since last year we had three seniors. (For the race) exchanges have to be flawless and clean; we have been having trouble getting the little details right. \n"It would be nice to go out there and get pole position, but this time we just want to go out there and do well. If that happens to be the pole position, that's cool. Pole position makes the statement that you have focus and clean exchanges, but it's in no way a determination on who will win the race"