ED CARPENTER RACING

The team that traditionally holds its rivals’ feet to the flames in Indianapolis 500 qualifying has not looked its normal self in preparation for the 104th running of the event, but that is not to say it’s been without promise. Crowd favourite

(yes, that sounds depressingly ironic this year) Conor Daly was very strong in traffic and on ovals in general – he’s worked wonders for Carlin. In fact, he may yet prove to have the strongest Chevrolet-engined car when it comes to dealing with dirty air and attempting to carve forward on race day. And he’ll need to, given that he’s starting mid-grid.

Team owner Ed

Carpenter was really out to lunch early last week, but gradually moved forward and made an impressive improvement in qualifying in far from ideal track temperatures. The three-time Indy polesitter has enough experience to move himself forward on race day, but does he have enough to take the fight to Andretti, Dixon et al? It seems doubtful right now.

Rookie Rinus

Veekay has shown some outrageous speed on road and street courses in his time on the Road To Indy, but no one would have described him as an oval meister… until last week. He put the other Chevrolet runners to shame by landing fourth on the grid and outpacing all but one of the Andretti Autosport cars. Watching him deal with traffic and dirty air, he has an abruptness of movement that can leave you biting your nails but hey, while the car sticks, it’s all fun, right? And given where he’s starting from, maybe the only cars he’ll need to pass will be backmarkers…

“DALY MAY YET PROVE TO HAVE THE STRONGEST CHEVY-ENGINED CAR WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH DIRTY AIR AND CARVING FORWARD”