INDIANAPOLIS, May 20 - Sam Hornish Jr, the fastest driver in the run-up to
qualifying for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 next Sunday, did not
disappoint with a pole winning four-lap average of 228.985mph (368.516kph) on
Saturday.
The Ohio native completed his single-car qualifying run of the 2.5mile (4km)
circuit at 1:33 p.m. and had to wait until the 6 p.m. closing gun to learn that
he won his first pole here which carries a $100,000 prize.
The Dallara/Honda driver said "I had a little push (understeer) in the last
couple of laps, which knocked some of our speed off, but our time held up so
far."
Brazil's Helio Castroneves, a two-times winner at the Brickyard and Hornish's
Penske Racing team mate, was slightly off the pace at 228.008mph (366.943kph).
It was a record 13th pole for Team Penske, who also hold the record of 13
victories.
Britain's Dan Wheldon, last year's winner and defending Indy Racing League
champion, was third fastest in another Dallara/Honda at 227.338mph (365.865kph).
Team mate Scott Dixon of New Zealand was fourth fastest at 226.921 mph
(365.194kph).
VERY POWERFUL
"You have to give Team Penske and Sam credit. They've been very, very
powerful this month. Right now they deserve to be where they are," said Wheldon.
Danica Patrick struggled early in the month with the handling of her
Panoz/Honda but seemed pleased with the improvement made over the last two days
of running.
Patrick, only the fourth woman to race here and the first to lead a lap,
managed 224.674 mph (361.578kph) for 10th fastest.
"We have finally found some speed, we aren't the quickest on the grid, we've
made big improvements, and, I'm happy," she explained.
Thirty two drivers qualified for the 500 mile (800km) race with one day
remaining under the unique Indianapolis rules. P.J. Jones was the slowest
qualifier of the day at 215.816mph (347.322kph).
