Sunday morning update from Houston (2nd Update)

UPDATE #2 Indy changed their mind and now the race will start based on drivers points, not entrants points. Castroneves will start on pole and Dixon on the outside.

10/06/13 Qualifying has been officially washed out but they will practice in the rain. IndyCar just announced that the starting grid for today's race will be based on 'entrant' points, not drivers points. As such, no bonus point for winning the pole will be awarded. The starting lineup will be:

Rank Car No. Driver
1 9 Dixon
2 3 Castroneves
3 77 Pagenaud
4 25 Andretti
5 1 Hunter-Reay
6 19 Wilson
7 10 Franchitti
8 12 Power
9 27 Hinchcliffe
10 83 Kimball
11 11 Kanaan
12 5 Viso
13 7 Bourdais
14 67 Newgarden
15 78 de Silvestro
16 14 Sato
17 18 Conway
18 15 Rahal
19 20 Carpenter
20 16 Jakes
21 4 Servia
22 55 Vautier
23 98 Filippi
24 6 Saavedra

10/06/13 Sunday morning dawned in Houston with a major change in the weather. It is very cool and damp and now heavy rain is falling as a cold front is moving through. It is expected to clear by the time the IndyCar race begins mid-day. Rain was not in the forecast but if there ever was an inexact science, climatology certainly falls in that category.

The water is ponding on the parking lot which is not graded to drain as a race track, but as a parking lot. Hence water is accumulating where it should not be. Hence qualifying is on hold for the time being. Don't be surprised if qualifying gets cancelled and they start the race based on points.

With Scott Dixon winning race 1 Saturday, he is now in position to win the SONAX Award. Dixon gladly accepted the $100,000 check for earning the SONAX Perfect Finish Award at Toronto. Will he collect the $50,000 prize this weekend in Houston?

SONAX, a global leader in the manufacturing of premium car care products, will pay out $50,000 if a driver can sweep the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston doubleheader. The 90-lap races on the 1.683-mile, 10-turn street circuit are Oct. 5-6.

Dixon won both races on the Exhibition Place street course in July. The SONAX Perfect Finish Award rolled over the first $50,000 to Toronto after no driver won both races at Detroit (Mike Conway and Simon Pagenaud).

“It was nice for me but it is extra special for the crew guys who work hard and get a portion of this prize money," Dixon said. "It’s great for SONAX to post such a big check for the weekend and to have them in the sport." Mark C. reporting from Houston

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