Hinchcliffe and Hunter-Reay lead Honda 1-2

James Hinchcliffe

Okay, who predicted that the Hondas would be fastest in qualification (5 of the top 9), that the fastest drive of the day would be by James Hinchcliffe, and that all five of the Andretti cars would be among the top 11?

And that the fastest Ganassi efforts would be Dixon in 13th?

And that the last hour of this contrived “meaningless" day of qualification would actually be a ton of fun?

YOU LIE!

None of you said that. But that’s what happened…. honest!

*****
So how do we get 2 days of entertainment out of 33 cars going for 33 spots on the grid? If the 34th car had materialized, today would’ve been Bump Day. Bump Day, as you recall, is pretty exciting if you’re watching it, but completely terrifies owners and drivers for the weeks leading up to Bump Day. Witness Michael Andretti a few years ago, having Marco bump out Hunter-Reay at the last moment, then having to buy one of AJ’s rides to make sure that Hunter-Reay (and the sponsor) were in the show. Betting that Michael is still making payments on that one.

But today, we had 33 cars, and unless one got vaporized by alien zombies or something, they were all in the show. So what Indy did was to make the fastest nine into something like a Round 2 group tomorrow, and the rest of the field competing for positions for positions 10 – 33.

[adinserter name="GOOGLE AD"]The day started off late due to early rains and that other Indy tradition, weepers that kept putting water on the track. During the ensuing practice Max Chilton collected the wall in turn 2. Turn was described in various terms of damnation for the entire day – evil, demonic, etc. Max’s car was heavily damaged, including the tub, and he’ll be in a backup car for tomorrow’s “real" qualification.

When qualification got underway, the temps and winds kept increasing, making it more and more difficult to post top speeds. Early on, Simon Pagenaud established the fastest speed, then it was Joseph Newgarden held it for what seemed like forever.

During her attempt, Pippa Mann spun her car in the previously-mentioned turns 1 and 2, collecting wall with both ends but not heavily damaging the car. Later the team revealed that her team mate Gabby Chavez’s rear wing broke an end plate during his attempt, and that the team also found Pippa’s rear wing to be broken in the same place. TV replays showed the wing intact during the spin, but the team insisted that this was the reason for Pippa’s shunt. To be safe, they pulled Conor Daly’s car off of the grid for an inspection. Dale Coyne’s team had posted fast speeds during the week, but didn’t make a dent into the Top 9 during the day.

After most of the drivers (all but the crashed cars) posted a speed, the track started to cool, and something akin to the old Indy “Happy Hour" started to develop. Before Indiana adopted Daylight Savings Time a few years ago, “Happy Hour" of 5-6 pm was, well, now what 6-7 pm is today. Due to the rain, qualification was extended to 7 PM. The temps on the track fell below 100, and neared 80 degrees by the end of the day. And that made all of the difference in the world.

Aleshin

At 5:47, Mikhail Aleshin knocked Marco Andretti out of the top 9. Andretti would later get back into the top 9, but ended up 11th fastest of the day – the slowest of the Andretti cars. Ironically, Andretti would first bump Ryan Hunter-Reay out of the top 9, but the Hunter-Reay went out and set the second-fastest time of the day, bumping Marco back out. Hunter-Reay and Marco have a history here of bumping each other out with late runs, and this time RHR got the last laugh (as he noted during the press conference later).

By far the biggest thrill of the day came at 6:24, when James Hinchcliffe went out to the track to make another attempt. That this man is still alive, and supposedly able to father children after getting speared by suspension parts in the upper legs during practice last year, is amazing. That he now came out and set down the fastest time of the day came as a pleasant surprise to everyone – especially James.

*******

Tomorrow, all of today’s times will be thrown out. Today’s Fast 9 will decide positions 1-9 at the end of the day, with the rest of the field fighting for 10-33. Qualifications for Group 1 (the slow guys) will start at 2:45 EDT, and the Fast 9 Pole competition will start around 5 PM

*******

Who’d have thought that Schmidt-Peterson would have 2 cars in the Fast 9? We figured Penske would be well-represented, but Ganassi was shut out entirely.

Most importantly, the “other shoe" that the Honda teams were dreading – that the Chevy teams would suddenly find a ton of speed and stomp their good feelings – never dropped. Honda is back, and is on par with Chevy for sure.

Also Not Dead Yet is Andretti Motorsport. The team has had well-documented struggles early this season, but today, all 5 cars were in the top 11. Most impressive is the speed that rookie Alexander Rossi has shown – day, he was in the top 9 until the very end of the day, and ended up 10th-fastest. His engineers found something that Rossi liked in the Grand Prix race last weekend, and it looks like they’ve meshed very well. Indy has a long list of F1 drivers that have come here and not found success, and it’s good to see that Rossi doesn’t look to be one of them.

******

A tick over 9.5 seconds over 4 laps. separated the fastest run of Hinchcliffe from the slowest run of Lazier.

[adinserter name="GOOGLE AD"]INDY 500 POST-QUALIFYING DAY QUICK QUOTES:

BUDDY LAZIER (No. 4 Lazier/Burns Racing Chevrolet): "It's nice to be back for the 500. I'm very proud to be here. We're a small team, but we've been moving forward every day. On my first lap I was hard into the limiter, and by the end I'd worn the tires down towards getting a little loose. It really is man versus machine. If the car is 100 percent right it doesn't take too much to get comfortable again, but this track always tests the driver. I came here to do a job that I enjoy doing. The Indy 500 is a very special piece of American sport. I think young people today are interested in telemetry and aerodynamics, and I think the future is very promising for Indy car racing. I am very proud to be participating in the 100th running."

JAMES HINCHCLIFFE (No. 5 Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda): "It was pretty good. I mean it was really good. What am I talking about? Huge credit to the Schmidt Peterson Motorsport guys. They've worked so hard on these race cars since back in February. We've got three quick ones. I mean, the No. 77 and the No. 7 were quick as well. After our first run, we didn't quite maximize. I made some mistakes on my shifting pattern. I was kind of mad at myself about that. Kind of got in my own head a little bit. We made some changes. We knew everybody was going to go out again and try and improve, and we made a couple changes to the car, because, I mean, the Arrow Electronics car was not only fast but it held on for all four laps. The consistency was there. That was a big key today. It doesn't mean much today; it's bragging rights. It's pay for the boys, because it validates all the effort they put into this race car. It gets us in the Fast Nine, obviously, which was what the big point today was and hopefully we can go out there tomorrow and do something similar."

JR HILDEBRAND (No. 6 Preferred Freezer Fuzzy Vodka Chevrolet): "It was a bummer that our first run wasn't five minutes earlier or something. When we went back and looked at all of the data it appeared as if that was pretty much the only difference between myself and Josef. He did a great job. He ran four great laps. The wind picked up so we were slower in one straightaway and were barely quick enough to catch back up to his speed on the other side. So that was kind of a bummer and we went back out and gave it another run this afternoon. It was kind of a similar situation. We just didn't quite have it dialed in, Ed nor I. We'll go back and look at everything. We'll take another crack at it and hopefully end up somewhere between 10th and 15th tomorrow and we'll start working on the race."

MIKHAIL ALESHIN (No. 7 SMP Racing Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda): "I think everything was in seconds in the end. I just managed to go out on track and that was my only chance to get up there. You know, with team help I obviously used it for 100 percent. I want to congratulate the team, all the team with the results that we had. I think all the team is very strong and especially James' results shows it. I think it's a good official start of the weekend. And good official start of 500 for all team. Yeah, we start from there."

MAX CHILTON (No. 8 Gallagher Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet): "I'm fine. A bit battered and bruised. Your first accident on an oval is never a great one. The timing is pretty bad, but that's the issue with practice before qualifying. You just want to make sure the car is right. I felt like it was a little bit strong in the front but I don't have the experience to know what's too much. Now I know, I know for future reference. It was my fault. I was driving the thing, so that's the way it goes. That was my first green flag lap. It felt good. But it felt too good, if you know what I mean. Now I know what's too good. It went down to the line pretty quickly. I was cautious of the rear and before you have time to react, it had gone and you're just a passenger from then on. Sorry for the guys. Hopefully, we can get out for the race."

SCOTT DIXON (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet): "It obviously wasn't the result we wanted today for Team Target so we just have to keep working on things. The field is really close and there are some guys out there who really put some speed on the time sheets today. We'll keep working hard and hopefully get things pointed in the right direction."

TONY KANAAN (No. 10 NTT Data Chevrolet): "Today was frustrating. We weren't expecting to come right out of the gates and put up a big number for qualifying, but we were definitely hoping for some more speed than what we ended with. We just didn't have the speed that we needed to get into the top nine. We'll have to get back to work tonight and see what needs to change to at least qualify toward the front of that second group. I know how hard the NTT DataChip Ganassi Racing guys are working, so I hope we can make that happen tomorrow during qualifying."

WILL POWER (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet): "Yeah, it was just conditions. Honestly I didn't change anything on the car and didn't trim out any more. It was just a matter of picking the right time to go in that line and making sure that you made it, too, that you didn't go too far back in the line. But yeah, the team picked it perfectly and made it in. So hopefully have a shot tomorrow. I think there's very fast cars out there and it will be a really good show for the fans."

TAKUMA SATO (No. 14 ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Honda): "So pleased to be back here and have an opportunity to be in the 100th Running, and to be part of it is really happy. Having said that, as my teammate Alex probably explained to you, we've been struggling. To be honest, we had back and forth and difficult days, particularly this morning as we weren't even able to run properly. There was a bit of discussion as to what we were going to do [in qualifying]. Obviously the weather change is really challenging for everyone but for us in particular, we found it really difficult. I was just so happy we put everything together for my qualifying laps. It wasn't necessarily the happiest, but we put together a decent speed under the circumstance. Hopefully if there is an opportunity, we can go back out again in the afternoon. We need to look at the data, the whole story. Personally I'd love to have another attempt. My engineers think that way too. We need to analyze what we could have done, should have done but obviously the most important thing is to be under control because tomorrow will be the day to determine the grid position. But still, tomorrow will be a very short run, could be only one attempt, so to gather as much information as we could today is absolutely vital for the team."

GRAHAM RAHAL (No. 15 Steak 'n Shake Honda): "That's (qualifying time) not what we hoped for but the car has been giving me these sorts of signs the last few days. We're going to continue to work hard here. There is no quit in these guys and they deserve better than this and we're going to fight hard to get it. I think we have to give it another shot, if for no other reason than to try to improve the car. (On second qualifying run): "We went back out to try to learn. We went back out to try a different mechanical setup. I think it was better but obviously still slow. We have got to look at why this thing is not pulling; it's just not pulling the gears it should easy. We've got a little work to do. But as I always say, and I really believe, we've got the best team out here. It's a great group of people and they do a great job of building this car, so I see no reason the car shouldn't be pretty quick."

SPENCER PIGOT (No. 16 RLL/Mi-Jack/Manitowoc Honda): "The most important day is next Sunday, but I think we can improve the car a little bit for tomorrow and jump up a couple of rows. But again, we are just focusing on the race, especially after the track time that we lost this week. We're focused on just building a good, fast race car. The car felt pretty good. It's pretty windy and gusty out here which can be difficult. The guys gave me a good car. They have worked really hard the last couple of days especially and I can't thank them enough."

CONOR DALY (No. 18 ShirtsForAmerica.com Honda): "It was a tough day. A little crazy at first after being pulled out of the line for precautionary measures after Pippa's rear wing end fence failure. I wish we would have practiced this morning because the track changed so much today. In the end, we're not in the Fast Nine, which I really thought that we had the potential to do but it is what it is. That said, I think that we can be pleased that we're pretty fast. I wanted to give it another shot, because the car wasn't that great on my first attempt but it was such a short time between the runs, that the engine got too hot and we may have lost a little bit of power there."

GABBY CHAVES (No. 19 Boy Scouts of America Honda): "On our first run we thought we had made an incorrect change, so we were still confident that for our second run we'd be able to nail it down and go back to the performance we had on Fast Friday. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, something is still a little off. We definitely have some time to check it out to try to be quick again. We'll see what we can do tomorrow. I'm a little confused right now, but I'm always optimistic, we always have to be. We've had a very strong car all week, but it's the first time something goes wrong so I'm confident the guys will figure it out and we can have our car back to how strong we've been."

ED CARPENTER (No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet): "I'm glad we got through the day unscathed. Josef's in a good position, I think he's got a car to go for the pole tomorrow. Unfortunately the Fuzzy's No. 20 car and the Preferred Fuzzy's No. 6 car just aren't up to speed right now. All of the cars are handling great. We're happy with that. I'm looking forward to Monday practice and getting ready for the race, but we'll see if we can go out tomorrow and move up from 14th and do our best as a team to see if we can win another pole with Josef. That car has front row potential."

JOSEF NEWGARDEN (No. 21 Preferred Freezer Chevrolet): "The main objective was to get into the Fast Nine; it didn't really matter how quick we were we just needed to be in that group. Fortunately we get to go for the pole tomorrow and then try and get as many points as we can because qualifying has a good amount of points; almost like a race win. I think our main goal is the race. Getting into the Top Nine was a big achievement, I think we'll take whatever we can tomorrow, but still going to try and go for it and get as high as possible."

CARLOS MUNOZ (No. 26 United Fiber & Data Honda): "I lost a little bit on my first lap, it just wasn't there. Today the conditions were very tough, after the rain and the wind. My last three laps were very fast and the goal today was to be in the top nine. I think we've had a very good United Fiber & Data Car all week and I am really happy we will have the opportunity to work for pole position tomorrow. I think we have a good chance to start the '500' from first."

MARCO ANDRETTI (No. 27 Snapple Honda): "On my first run, I knew during the first lap that I was in trouble. The rear (of the car) started to go on Lap 1 – man, that was a miserable run. We were lucky to not be in the wall on that one. We went back out and it was a time game. We fell on the short side of timing and got bumped at the end. It's not the day I was looking for, but this race can be won from outside the top nine and that's now what our sights are on."

Hunter-Reay 2nd quick

RYAN HUNTER-REAY (No. 28 DHL Honda): "We had the fastest car on Wednesday – which was great, but we had some troubles toward the end of the week so today we've just been getting up to speed. Our first run we just didn't have the balance, but our last run was great. I really have to give credit to the whole No. 28 DHL Honda team – these guys, when I needed them they were there with the right settings, the car was great. I also really want to thank Honda for really pushing it here. They're absolutely hanging it all on the edges as we are (the drivers). It's making for a great show out there. Hopefully tomorrow we come away with the pole."

TOWNSEND BELL (No. 29 California Pizza Kitchen/Robert Graham Honda): "Today was pretty edgy. The first lap was good, the second lap was a little harder. The third lap I made a bit of a bobble in Turn 1 and then tried to make up for it on the fourth lap. But the California Pizza Kitchen / Robert Graham car has been awesome and the Honda power is terrific. I can't complain to be contending for the pole tomorrow. It's fun to come back to Indy and have that opportunity."

ALEX TAGLIANI (No. 35 Alfe Heat Treating Special Honda): "It's disappointing to be where we are. We're going to try something now before the end of the day to give us a direction and hopefully tomorrow we'll be able to salvage a better performance because (the goal) at the end of the day today was to be in the top nine. And if we realize we can't be, tomorrow is going to be a different day and our mission will be to try to be tenth."

JACK HAWKSWORTH (No. 41 ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Honda): "The car wasn't very fast. The car can definitely get faster. I think the No. 14 car had the right idea on set up. I wish we could put what they had on theirs onto mine and see where it gets us. We've been struggling all week. By struggling I mean that we really didn't start until Thursday. We've been on the back foot so far this week. We've struggled a little bit the past few days, but it seems Takuma (Sato) found something, so we'll sit down with him and figure out what he's doing."

CHARLIE KIMBALL (No. 42 Tresiba Chevrolet): "I'm definitely disappointed with our qualifying run. We've been fairly strong all week and we just couldn't get it done out there today. We obviously didn't make it into the top nine, but we'll get our chance tomorrow to put the No. 42 Tresiba® Chevrolet into a better starting position for the race next weekend."

MATT BRABHAM (No. 61 PIRTEK Team Murray Chevrolet): "It is a wonderful feeling to say that I've been able to qualify for the race – it is one of those special moments in life. We're here and I've made it and I'm going to be racing in the Indianapolis 500. How cool is that? I was definitely nervous before going out there, I wanted to get my four laps in very cleanly and not mess it up and ensure that PIRTEK Team Murray made the race. Once I got in the car and got through the first lap, I felt more comfortable heading into the second lap and it came together from there, I got four solid laps in. It's a pretty special thing to be the third generation of Brabham to have a start in this race and to be only the third family to do that in 100 years is something that I'm very honored to be in that situation and to be part of such a great family that is the Brabhams and this place is just steeped in history."

PIPPA MANN: (No. 63 Susan G. Komen Honda): "That was a massively tough break with the failure of the rear wing end fence on my qualifying run. I'm just really glad that I was able to have quick hands, and with some help from Lady Luck we were able to minimize the damage to the car. The boys are working away in the garage. We've had a great car all week. The engine wasn't harmed, the gearbox wasn't harmed, it's mainly bolt on stuff so we'll put it back together and we'll go run strongly tomorrow."

ALEXANDER ROSSI (No. 98 NAPA Auto Parts/Curb Honda): "It's disappointing. We spent the entire day inside the Fast Nine to get bumped out with just a few seconds left in qualifying. We thought we were safe, it's just a shame we won't be competing for pole tomorrow. I know we have one of the best cars on the track and we could've seen the NAPA Auto Parts/Curb car on the front row for the 100th Running. We will just have to make sure we end the day in tenth tomorrow."

Saturday Results

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