ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT
The first day of qualifying ended with the team 1-2-3-4, while Colton Herta remained just outside the Fast Nine and
Zach Veach was midfield. Come the Sunday shootout, only Marco Andretti looked truly formidable, while James Hinchcliffe, Ryan Hunter-reay and Alexander Rossi had apparently flattered to deceive. Most observers would have been prepared to bet the latter three would not be toppled by a rookie, especially one with the supposed disadvantage of running a Chevrolet engine. Yet that’s how things transpired.
Interestingly, it was day one practice pacesetter Hinchcliffe who most of those on the team believe has the best all-round car for any conditions on race day, and certainly the 2016 polesitter has looked wonderfully confident in practice.
Still, in the past we’ve seen Hinchcliffe wobble or become overaggressive when circumstances start working against him, whereas Andretti seems to have the pace to never be more than one or two cars back from the leader, whether the track conditions are hot or merely warm. And given the bravery of Rossi and Hunterreay – and the fact that each knows how to win here already – you’d imagine they would have a strong handle on how to get the job done.
But don’t ignore Herta, who has driven with great maturity this year.