Dixon Wins Pole Start for 99th Indianapolis 500
Scott Dixon punctuated the day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by earning the Verizon P1 Award for the pole position in qualifications for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
Dixon, driving the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, recorded a four-lap average speed of 226.760 mph on the 2.5-mile oval and will lead the 33-car field to the green flag in the 200-lap race May 24 (11 a.m. ET on ABC).
Click HERE to view and download the qualifying results for the 99th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
Reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Will Power (226.350 mph) and Team Penske teammate Simon Pagenaud (226.145 mph) also qualified for front-row starts under a revised format. The change was prompted by a lengthy delay for track repairs and aerodynamic and engine boost changes mandated by INDYCAR following a crash involving CFH Racing co-owner/driver Ed Carpenter during a morning practice session.
The scheduled two-day, multi-tier qualifying format was altered by rain May 16 after only two of the 34 entries made qualifying runs. By rule, both runs were thrown out and qualifying started fresh May 17.
The scheduled May 17 "Fast Nine Shootout," in which the top entries were slated to return to the track after their initial qualifying attempts for a single four-lap run to determine the Verizon P1 Award winner and the first three rows, was canceled. Instead, each entry was allowed one qualifying attempt to lock in positions 1-30.
Positions 31-33, contested among four drivers, were determined in a separate session after the initial qualifying session. Buddy Lazier, the 1996 Indy 500 winner, did not make the field.
Dixon, a three-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion, won the 2008 Indy 500 from the pole and has five top-five finishes in his 12 "500" starts. Dixon's 22nd career pole broke a tie with 2003 Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran for 13th on the all-time Indy car list. He also broke a streak of eight consecutive Verizon IndyCar Series races dating to August 2014 in which a Team Penske driver started from the pole.
"We're starting in the right place but it's still a long race. Hopefully, we can replicate what we did in 2008," said Dixon, who was presented a $100,000 check for winning the pole. "We're starting on pole for the Indianapolis 500 and now we just have to finish first. I'm just so proud of everybody at Team Target, whether it's the engineers and everybody that has worked so hard to get the speed out of this car. It was definitely a tough day."
Power, who won the Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the IMS road course from the pole on May 9, had a best previous Indy 500 start of second in 2009. Pagenaud's highest previous Indy 500 start was fifth in 2014.
"I think we have a good chance here, the entire team," Pagenaud said of the Team Penske foursome that also includes three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves (qualified fifth) and 2000 race winner Juan Pablo Montoya (qualified 15th). "But the Indy 500 is a bit like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. You're never ready enough for this race. There's so many things, nine to 10 pit stops, a yellow can fall out at the wrong time, something can happen in pit lane.
"It can go all right up until the race and something can happen at the last moment where you don't expect it. I'm just going to keep being like I have been, like pretty non-emotional about it, and do my job, even though I'm super excited."
Before qualifications today, INDYCAR announced:
-- The turbocharger boost level, which was increased from 130 kPa to 140 kPa for "Fast Friday" practice May 15 and scheduled qualifications May 16-17, was returned to 130 kPa. That relates to about a 40 horsepower reduction to the Chevrolet and Honda 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 engines. The boost level will remain at 130 kPa for final practices May 18 and Coors Light Carb Day on May 22, as well as the race.
-- The aerodynamic bodywork package that the Chevrolet- and Honda-aligned entries qualified with must be utilized in the race. Downforce was increased on the superspeedway platforms for added stability.
"That rule alone will cause the manufacturers to select certain components that are biased toward the race, which in effect will give them more downforce, which is really part of the exercise we're going through here," said Derrick Walker, INDYCAR president of competition and operations.
Carpenter's crew prepared a backup chassis in less than five hours following the morning crash and he participated in the afternoon practice preceding qualifications. The third driver in the qualifying order, he recorded a four-lap average of 224.883 mph and qualified 12th.
"When I was upside down in Turn 2 this morning, I didn't know the delays in the schedule we would have. The way things worked out, it gave the team the time it needed to get the car ready to go," said Carpenter, who earned the Verizon P1 Award at Indianapolis the past two years. "I didn't think we expected to win the pole with the morning we had and I'm just thankful to the whole team."
A practice session is scheduled for 12:30-4 p.m. (ET) May 18, and the 11 a.m.-noon (ET) session on May 22 is the final practice.
INDIANAPOLIS 500 QUALIFYING QUOTES
WILL POWER (No. 1 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet): "Obviously, with the rule change this morning, we did all we could. It (the car) was pretty stuck. Hopefully, we're in the front row. The race is very different. We felt like we were pretty strong in traffic. I'm pretty focused on winning this thing. I would have loved to win the pole, but this is Indianapolis. Things change quickly -- as they did this morning. We reacted as best we could and just didn't have the pole today."
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA (No. 2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet): "The car balance was pretty good. I went out this morning and the first run was pretty competitive. But, that's all we got, you know." (Did the rule change affect you today?): "We drive when we need to drive. I think INDYCAR did the right thing. I really wanted to see the cars go fast. If you can tell the difference between a car going 230 miles an hour and 235 on the straight, then you're my hero."
HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 3 Shell V-Power Nitro+ Team Penske Chevrolet): "I've had to rely a little bit on my teammates, because we only had one long run, which was on Tuesday. On Wednesday, unfortunately, we had the incident. Then Thursday we started to focus a little bit more on qualifying. Thank God we have Monday, hoping the weather cooperates to try a lot on the race setup. Right now it's time to just focus on the race. Let me tell you, in Indy there is no relaxing time. We're going full throttle when we hit the track." (On today): "Changing the plans like that, it gets everybody surprised especially with just 30 minutes of practice. The good news is it went to some of the numbers we already know what to do. Don't get me wrong because it was numbers we ran in only 30 minutes, but the team did a great job. I couldn't support the series more in this situation, because you've got to make sure everybody's in the same position."
STEFANO COLETTI (No. 4 KV Racing Technology Chevrolet): "It's the slowest we've been all week, so it's a bit disappointing. But at least we're in the show and the race is different. It's a long race, so we'll see what we can do from there." (Has the Speedway met your expectations?): "Oh yeah, it's phenomenal. It's completely different than what I'm used to. The first time you drive down that track and you go 220 miles per hour for the first time, you're like, 'Whoa, that's fast.' Then suddenly, it's amazing what the brain does because everything slows down. You keep going faster. I did 229.4 the other day and it was like, 'That looks slow.' But today I think we probably did something wrong because I've never been that slow. That's why I'm really disappointed right now." (Until you get to Indianapolis, can you really understand what Indianapolis is all about?): "No, you can't. It's a very special place. The atmosphere and driving that track is something that you can't describe."
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE (No. 5 Arrow/Lucas Oil Schmidt Peterson Honda): "Pretty frustrating, because we ran 225s in practice. The wind unfortunately picked up and caught us off-guard a little bit. It's a shame for the guys. Everybody here at Schmidt Peterson put such a big effort in to make these cars prepped for qualifying and try to go for those big speeds. We had them this morning, and it just didn't happen this afternoon. It's frustrating. It's kind of Russian Roulette a little bit. It all depends on what the wind decides to do during your run. A gust of a couple miles an hour difference can make a huge effect on lap times. It's a bit of a bummer, but at the end of the day, Ryan won this from the mid-teens last year. We've just got to stay clean on Sunday." (On the race): "The approach doesn't change. Whether you're starting in the top 10 or outside the top 20, you've got to be there at the end. You've got to be smart, you've got to make it to Lap 150, Lap 170 before you can start thinking about making it to the end of the race. As long as you do that, you're going to be up there."
JR HILDEBRAND (No. 6 Preferred Freezer / CFH Racing Chevrolet): "Track grip was really good when we went out there. I felt we could've gotten a little more out of it. We were a little on the conservative side. I think we'll end up starting in the top 10 here and that'll be good for next weekend. It feels good to get this team up here. The Penske guys, the Ganassi guys, they'll end up slotting in ahead of us there, but to be up amongst that group definitely makes me feel good."
JAMES JAKES (No. 7 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda): "I'm very disappointed (because) we had a good run this morning. I think we got a little bit aggressive and looking at the flags, the wind has picked up on these last two runs. We just didn't have it on that run. It (the rules change) affected everybody. What's important is that they get the data on these cars; hopefully we can learn from the data and the car's point of view. We'll just have to get ready for the race now."
SAGE KARAM (No. 8 Comfort Revolution / Big Machine Records Chevrolet): "It was not where I wanted to qualify, that's for sure. It's better than last year. But this place is all about your race car. It's not about where you qualify and this whole month we've just been working on the race car. I think we have a better car. So, I'm not too down. I'm very confident right now going into this race. I think we can get to the front. I've got good teammates. Teammates have got some good speed. Hopefully, maybe hook up with one of them and we will go up to the front. I think we have a good shot at this thing. I really do."
SCOTT DIXON (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, Verizon P1 Award winner): "I was thinking we were going to do somewhere in the low 226 range. On the first lap I got a gust of wind, I don't know what it was, and we got a 227. A huge credit goes to the team. Team Target did a good job all month, even today with the configuration changes." (Are you satisfied with the safety changes?): "They just tried to do their best. There were a lot of unknowns so they had to make an on-point decision. They tried to eliminate crashes -- the big crashes -- as much as possible. With a toss of the hat, I think it was the best decision."
TONY KANAAN (No. 10 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet): "It wasn't very consistent. We missed a little bit on the setup. It happens. We tried as hard as we could to start from the pole. Hopefully, we can win from wherever we start. I have a good race car. We still have tomorrow to work on it. When we won here in 2013, we started 12th. I think we can do it." (On the mandated setup changes): "You've got to understand we have a new package. I know we emphasize a lot about safety, but I've lost a lot of good friends in racing. Sometimes, I think you need to react. Do I think it was a little bit of an overreaction? Yeah, but that's my opinion. It is what it is. We'll respect the decisions. I'm glad that Chevy didn't get blamed for it, I don't think it's fair to say that. They did a great job with the aero kits." (On the quick turnaround for qualifying): "It was hectic. It was crazy. We ran a package we've never run all week long. The important thing is to put a qualifying day for these fans who came to watch. Once we have a good race next week, nobody will remember what happened."
SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS (No. 11 Hydroxycut - HAUS Vaporizer KVSH Chevrolet): "To think about what's going to happen next Sunday, I have no idea. The car was really good in race trim and we looked pretty racy in the last session, but we'll see. Track temp and air temp is going to dictate what kind of downforce and setup we want to put into the car. I guess we'll find out. I'm really happy. It's the first time I've gotten out of the car in qualifying here that I'm actually happy. It's a good first. It's a great qualifying for us. Obviously, we found a lot of speed from practice. The car was pretty consistent and I picked up some confidence from the first two or three runs this afternoon. It's good."
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=20979.msg113409#msg113409