After crashing his car early on in qualifying, Boat managed to team up with his former boss A.J. Foyt and drive his way into a starting spot at the 84th Indianapolis 500, despite driving a car that had never seen a single practice lap.

"I guess that's what makes Indy, Indy," said Boat.

In case you missed Boat's May 22 chat, the following is an edited transcript.

Pedalpusher: How would you describe the atmosphere at the Indy 500? Does any car race come close to duplicating that feeling?

Billy Boat: I don't think I've ever been to a sporting event at all that has the same atmosphere. I've been to all the major races, and there is just something about the start of the race that will send chills up your spine. When you put 400,000 people in one place it makes for an exciting event.

Cha-Cha: Good luck on Sunday, Billy. What kind of mental preparation do you go through the week during the race?

	Boat glided into a starting spot in the Indy 500 despite crashing his car early on.

Billy Boat: The thing you have to remember is it's three hours of driving, 12 inches off a cement wall and there is such a small margin of error. You have to stay focused and know that you have to keep your concentration and be prepared for all kinds of circumstances.

Andrew LaFollette: That was an amazing run yesterday! Could you describe what was going through your mind when you dove into turn one at 220 mph in a car that had neven even been shaken down?

Billy Boat: I think under those circumstances I just put that out of my mind. I just focused on how it felt. It was a seat of the pants kind of feeling. I knew the car wasn't going to do anything stupid so I was able to go in the corners without lifting. I could barely reach the throttle, I had my legs stretched out, and the car didn't fit, so it was a real challenge to get the car around the track.

Kent Brockman: I saw your ordeal just trying to qualify yesterday. Would you go through all that if it wasn't Indy? Is that the closest you've ever come to the time limit and still made the race?

Billy Boat: I guess that's what makes Indy, Indy. There are no guarantees that anybody will make the race. I should have made the race in the 41 car. So many things can happen where you find yourself looking from the outside in. It's only 33 guys, and the 33 fastest, so it can be a challenge.

I think when I pulled out there was only 15 seconds left so that was definately the closest.

Roman: How have the drivers been as far as welcoming the rookies, especially 19-year-old Sarah Fisher?

Billy Boat: I think all the drivers remember when they were rookies so everybody has been really receptive. We try to answer their questions and encourage them and keep them informed. There are a lot of good young racers and it's only going to help the future of the league.

Sarah has a similar background as me so I knew she had the ability. We try to help her as much as we can with any questions she may have.

eric: Billy, good luck this weekend. Do you think you and Dale Pelfrey will be able to continue this season and will you guys run at Texas???

Billy Boat: Right now Dale is evaluating his position and I think we will know in the next couple days if he is going to Texas. I hope he does and I hope I'm in the seat. I'm disappointed I didn't get the 81 car in the race. It was a letdown for me and the team and I feel like I let them down. But this is Indy and when things go wrong you have to be prepared. Unfortuantely we weren't prepared for what happened.

Uncle Leo: How has the overall quality of racing improved in the IRL since you came in?

Billy Boat: I think the level of the teams has risen and continues to rise each year. We are seeing more and more teams with resources and that raises the level of competition. The competitors are close so that makes for better racing. It may be tougher on the smaller teams but hopefully the funding overall will increase as we go up and the smaller teams will be able to compete.

Kevin McGarry: Billy just wondered how it felt to get into one of AJ's cars again and what do you think your chances are in The Race??

Billy Boat: It felt great to get back with A.J.'s team. When I left, I left on good terms and I feel great that he had the confidence to put me in the seat under those circumstances. That team has improved even over last year. They are so focused and organized. A.J. always has great cars at Indy. Indy means too much to him to not have cars right up front. It's just a matter of being in it at the end and taking whatever Indy throws at us but I think we have a great chance.

GREG: While I was watching qualifing yesterday, I noticed that the drivers that ran their cars flat-out on the warm-up lap had the fastest times overall. Do you think that is a risky move on cold tires? If so, is it worth the risk to qualify higher?

Billy Boat: A lot of that depends on the set-up of your car. You take a risk of the car stepping out on you but it all depends on how the car feels at that moment. If you have confidence in you car you probably will have a faster qualifying lap.

Dave: Billy, this will be your 4th Indy 500 with A.J. What's the best, and the toughest things about driving for him? Good luck Sunday!

Billy Boat: The best thing is he has so much experience that he can prepare you for anything. If he could lose every other race and win Indy he would do it. It means that much to him. But he can also be a tough guy. He demands a lot of his drivers. He gives 120 percent and he wants you to do the same. If you do that you will be O.K.

Joe: This is the furthest back you have ever started for the "500". Do you have any concerns about the start, maybe more than in previous years?

Billy Boat: No I think its just a matter of not getting in a hurry and letting the field settle out. You have to be concerned about not waiting too long and getting hung up in the back. You have to stay on the lead lap and be careful as you work your way through the field.

Robert Hansen: Billy, do you have to apply the brake into the corner or do you just let off the gas. And what turn do you think Indy will be won and lost on?

Billy Boat: At Indy not only do you not use the break you never let up on the gas. Turn 1 is the toughest corner in motor sports. I don't know any other course that is like it. I'm not sure what it is, it's just tough. Everybody has the same problems there. In the race, you don't run flat out, you lift some of the corners. Someone who gets through Turn 1 for 500 miles will be a contender for the win.

Roman: It seems like Jack Arute was the first to mention the idea of you driving for A.J. to Mr. Foyt on TV. Was that the case, or had he thought about it earlier in the day?

Billy Boat: I'm not sure what time Arute brought up the idea. My first intention was to get the 81 in the show but after we crashed I just wanted to make a deal with someone to put 81 on someone else's car. We went to some other teams but couldn't get anything put together. By 3:30 we knew it wasn't going to work and I went to A.J.'s garage to see if he had a car and would let me in it.

Jason: Billy, if you had the opportunity, would you drive AJ's car in the Winston Cup series?

Billy Boat: The allure of the Winston Cup is great but I don't know if A.J.'s team is the right place for a rookie driver. They've had their struggles so I think he needs some experience so I don't know if it would be the right place for me. The competiton there is so great. It's takes a great combination of experience to win those races.

I'd like to thank everybody for the support throughout the weekend and I hope you enjoy the Indy 500! Thanks for all the questions!