Photo credit: Jim Haines/Indianapolis Motor Speedway
INDIANAPOLIS – Never mind the contrived formula designed to mitigate a
lack of entries, Saturday’s qualifying for the 100th Indianapolis 500
was full of redemption, drama and surprise.
The drivers who advanced to today’s Fast Nine shootout that will
determine the pole position for the race on May 29 represent a wide variety of
storylines.
Start with Saturday’s fastest qualifier, James Hinchcliffe. The popular
Canadian nearly died after a crash in practice before last year’s race. He
averaged 230.946 mph on his four-lap run.
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| James Hinchcliffe |
“I can’t thank (my crew) enough. What a difference a year makes,”
Hinchcliffe said. “It validates all the effort the guys have put in.”
Ryan Hunter-Reay experienced a bit of redemption as well. The 2014
Indianapolis 500 champion was knocked out of the Fast Nine by Andretti Autosport
teammate Marco Andretti in the closing minutes of qualifying.
“That was a pretty hairy few laps there – I was holding my breath the
whole way,” Hunter-Reay said.
He bumped his way into the Fast Nine in convincing fashion, opening
with a scorching lap of 231.315 mph, and wound up with a four-lap average of
230.805 mph to oust Andretti from pole contention.
Third-fastest was Will Power, who also had a stirring run late in the
day to average 230.736 mph to lead Team Penske.
“This is the hardest qualifying I’ve ever done at this place,” said
last year’s runner-up, who gets to do it all again today. “It was very hairy on
the last lap.”
Teammate and three-time 500 champ Helio Castroneves was fourth quick,
followed by Townsend Bell, an Indy-only specialist driving for Andretti
Autosport, and Josef Newgarden of Ed Carpenter Racing. Bell had the fastest
single lap of the day at 231.582 mph.
The final three spots in the Fast Nine went to Mikhail Aleshin (Schmidt
Peterson Motorsports), Carlos Munoz (Andretti Autosport) and Simon Pagenaud
(Team Penske).
Aleshin, who did not compete in the Verizon IndyCar Series last year
due to lack of sponsorship, had the last attempt of the day and nudged out
rookie Alexander Rossi.
Munoz’ effort means he will start in the first three rows for the third
time in four races. Pagenaud, who leads the points and has won the last three
races, will go for his first pole in the 500.
The competition between the two engine manufacturers, Honda and
Chevrolet, was about as even as possible: Five Hondas and four Chevrolets in
the Fast Nine.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was that none of Chip Ganassi’s four cars
made it into the Fast Nine. Scott Dixon, last year’s pole-sitter, was 13th
after Saturday. The best the 2008 500 champ can start is 10th after
today’s qualifying.
Teammate Tony Kanaan, who won the pole in 2005 and the race in 2013,
was 19th on Saturday.
Juan Pablo Montoya, last year’s race winner, also missed the Fast Nine –
the only member of Team Penske to miss the cut.
Morning rains, then stubborn “weepers” pushed the start of practice
until 12:37 p.m. Because of the delay, qualifications didn’t start until 2:20
p.m. and were extended until 7 p.m., one hour later than normal.
A total of 30 cars qualified Saturday for the 33-car field. Still to
qualify are rookie Max Chilton, who crashed during practice; Pippa Mann, who
crashed during her qualifying attempt; and Gabby Chaves, who waved off his
attempt late in the day.
Neither Chilton nor Mann were hurt and are expected to qualify today.
Today’s qualifying will set the order of the field. Positions 10-33
will be determined from 2:45-4:45 p.m. The Fast Nine Shootout, which will
determine the pole position and the rest of the top nine spots, begins at 5
p.m.
Here are the results of Saturday’s qualifying:
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