Swift engine change proves vital for Dixon
New Zealander Scott Dixon will start the 100th running of the Indy 500 from 13th, despite a lightning fast engine change from his Chip Ganassi Racing crew on the final day of qualifying.
The reigning and four-time IndyCar series champion was unable to improve on the position he held heading into yesterday’s action.
Dixon’s car developed an engine problem in practice and although his team did a change in just 64 minutes to get him out for one qualifying attempt, he will still start next Monday’s race from the inside of row four.
Despite his grid position in the 33-car field, the 2008 Indy 500 winner was staying upbeat.
‘‘That is absolutely unheard of. This is truly why this is a team sport,’’ Dixon said of the engine change that was almost two hours faster than normal.
‘‘I obviously didn’t pick up a wrench today and they probably liked it that way, knowing my mechanical skills.
‘‘IndyCar would not have let us in qualifying if we didn’t get the car ready in time and we would have started dead last. Given the situation and what we went through today as a team I’m pleased.’’
Dixon, who battled with the gusty conditions that ensued after a 4-1/2 hour delay to yesterday’s qualification runs, was not alone in his team struggling for speed.
Dixon was the four-car team’s fastest as they failed to get someone into the nine-car shootout for pole, with Charlie Kimball set to start 16th, Tony Kanaan 18th and Max Chilton 22nd after he crashed on Sunday.
Adding another chapter to an amazing last 12 months, Canadian James Hinchcliffe claimed pole position to give Honda that honour for the first time at the Indy 500 in five years.
The Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver clocked an four-lap average speed of almost 231mph (371kmh) to pip American duo Josef Newgarden and Ryan Hunter-Reay for the top spot.
Hinchcliffe, who almost died from injuries he sustained during practice for last year’s Indy 500 and has spent the past year fighting his way back, was understandably emotional at his achievement.
‘‘I came into this month hoping we’d have a new story to talk about after what happened last year and I think we did it,’’ he said.
‘‘I can’t believe it. I’m honestly at a loss for words, which everyone knows is rare for me.’’