Indy 500 Qualifying

May 24

Indy 500 Qualifying

Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 remains one of my favorite things to witness, in spite of the myriad of changes that have taken place over the years. Down to a single weekend now rather than the four-day two weekend extravaganza that it once was. The more com pact schedule does not decrease the intensity or drama that comes from attempting to make the most important auto race in the world.

This year 35 drivers would be competing for the traditional 33 car field, meaning that two drivers and teams would be sent home and would not be starting the race, which is a huge letdown and can absolutely gut those involved. The weather was beautiful over the two days of qualifying and I was on hand for every minute of the action on both days.

There are really two competitions in qualifying one for the front of the field (the top nine) and the other at the back just to make it into the race. On Saturday, each team can make as many attempts as they want to make a four-lap average at the fastest speed possible. At the end of the day, positions 10-30 are locked in based on the fastest speed averages of the drivers. The fastest nine drivers on Saturday return on Sunday for the fast-nine pole shootout, where just those nine drivers each get a single run with the fastest getting the pole and the others starting based on their speeds.

Also on Sunday is bump day, for the last three positions in row 11 as positions 31-35 from Saturday compete to be the fastest three of that bunch and make the race. It makes for duel drama as the fastest compete to start first and the slowest compete just to make the field.

Chip Ganassi Racing flexed its muscle Saturday during qualifying for the 105th Indianapolis 500, as Scott Dixon led all four of the team’s cars into the Firestone Fast Nine Shootout with the fastest qualifying run on the first attempt overall of the day. There also was drama at the opposite end of the field, as 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power was relegated to Last Chance Qualifying on Sunday after his two runs were too slow to make the top 30.

Six-time and reigning Indy Car champion Dixon was the first driver on track when qualifying started at noon after his team earned the first spot in the qualifying draw Friday night, and he delivered in the best track and air conditions of the five-hour, 50-minute session. Dixon produced a four-lap average speed of 231.828 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Grow Up Great Honda, and his car number stayed atop the iconic Scoring Pylon for the rest of the day despite 58 attempts to topple it Colton Herrta had the second fastest run followed by Tony Kanaan, Ed Carpenter and Rinus VeeKay.

On the other end of the spectrum, there was drama for the powerful Penske team as their driver Will Power struggled and was forced to have to return Sunday as one of the slowest five just to try and make the field. RC Enerson, Charlie Kimball, Simona DeSivestro and Sage Karam all had to come back and try to bump their way in.

On Sunday, I was joined at the track by my nephew Jerome and his fiancée Francesca as well as my buddies Kevin and Ted as we hung out in the suite watching the drama unfold as Scott Dixon edged out Colton Herta for the pole and unfortunately Charlie Kimball and RC Enerson were bumped from the field.