Blistering speeds at fastest Indy 500 qualifying since 1996
The rain held off long enough for a full round of Indianapolis 500 qualifying on a soupy day that saw blistering speeds – some of the fastest in race history, and fastest in 26 years – and controversy at Andretti Autosport.
Rinus VeeKay put his Chevrolet atop the scoring pylon with a four-lap average speed of 233.655mph around Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It bumped fellow Chevy driver Pato O’Ward to second at 233.037 as the two budding IndyCar stars were the first two drivers to qualify for the May 30 (NZT) race.
Arie Luyendyk set the four-lap qualifying record in 1996 at 236.986, and VeeKay’s average was third fastest of all time behind Luyendyk and Scott Brayton’s mark of 233.718. O’Ward’s average was fifth fastest in history, with Tony Stewart fourth in 1996.
Jimmie Johnson qualified for his first
Indy 500 and once again showed incredible speed. In an early morning practice, Johnson turned a lap at 233.961mph – 14th fastest in track history. The seven-time Nascar champion has steadily become a legitimate contender to win the Indy 500, which would be his fifth victory on the Indianapolis oval; Johnson won four times in Nascar.
‘‘There were some quiet moments I had before I rolled off, I was able to look around and really take in the moment,’’ said Johnson, ‘‘and what a special moment it was, I am just so happy to here. Things are looking good for now’’.
New Zealand’s Scott Dixon was ninth in the qualifying round with an average speed of 232.151mph with compatriot Scott McLaughlin 15th (231.543mph).
Not long after Johnson’s morning run, his Chip Ganassi Racing team-mate Dixon turned the 13th fastest lap in history at 234.093, and Ed Carpenter closed the session as the leader at 234.410mph – the fastest lap in Indy 500 practice since Luyendyk set the track record of 237.498mph in 1996.
Carpenter’s lap was eighth fastest of all time.
Andretti Autosport got off to a rough start. Marco Andretti had to abort his qualifying run and angrily accused two-time winner Takuma Sato of ruining his attempt because Sato failed to get off the track following his run moments earlier.
The team then petitioned IndyCar to throw out Andretti’s attempt and give him a clean run.
Sato said he was never informed Andretti was on track and when he saw him in his mirrors, he decided to stay put in his line rather than potentially move inadvertently into Andretti’s way.
But as the team was lobbying IndyCar, owner Michael Andretti was leaning palms down on the pit wall incredulous as Colton Herta’s engine seemed to fail during Herta’s run.
Herta aborted his run and returned to the pits, and later confirmed his engine would be changed.
Then 2016 winner Alexander Rossi didn’t crack the top-12 during his run and needs another shot to advance into today’s competition for the pole.
‘‘We added downforce,’’ said Rossi, who called the decision ‘‘horrible’’.
The clip in his voice echoed all of Andretti, which took little comfort when IndyCar disqualified Sato for interfering in Marco Andretti’s run. His petition to have his Sato-ruined run thrown out was not granted.