After four full days of on-track running consuming 8,162 laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, one thing is certain: the battle for pole position in the historic 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil is wide open.
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The Canadian driver who almost died past year from a life-threatening leg injury sustained during practice for the 500, survived two challenges in the final 25 minutes and barely held onto the top seed with a speed of 230.946 miles per hour. After both Helio Castroneves and Will Power came up sort, the next-to-last qualifier, Hunter-Reay came close to toppling him, but ended his four-lap run fractionally slower, at 230.648 miles per hour. It was the fourth-closest differential between first and second in Indy’s 100-year history.
Hinchcliffe’s pole run capped an incredible year for the driver, who was severely injured in a crash at IMS in 2015.
INDIANAPOLIS James Hinchcliffe watched the Indianapolis 500 previous year from his hospital bed. What a story, considering when last year’s race took the green flag he was in a hospital a couple of miles away recovering from serious injuries suffered in a crash a week earlier.
“I don’t think anyone can describe almost losing your life at a track, then going back there to go 240 miles per hour into a corner”, said Ryan Hunter-Reay, one of the many drivers to congratulate Hinchcliffe after his pole-winning run Sunday. Bell was barely ahead of Power (231.339) and Andretti drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay (231.284) and Marco Andretti (231.255).
“It’s insane”, Hinchcliffe said.
Hinchcliffe’s victory marks the first time in six races that Team Penske drivers have not won the pole and ends a 31-race pole drought for Honda, which dated to the 2014 race in Houston.
HONDA POWER: The Honda cars have been better all week and, thanks to Hinchcliffe, the engine-manufacturer has its first Indianapolis pole since 2011. Though his auto spun 5 1/2 times, he was quickly checked, released and cleared to drive by the infield medical center.
The draw for qualifying positions following today’s practice saw 2013 Indy 500 victor Tony Kanaan earn the first spot in line in the No. 10 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. “But Alan MacDonald and the engineering crew gave me a stellar vehicle Honda gave us a great engine and this is just a super team”.
It was quite a day for Schmidt (and partner Rick Peterson) who placed three cars among the first 10 on the 33-car grid.
Defending race victor Juan Pablo Montoya will start 17th after a freaky sequence in which he ran over a trash bag during his qualifying attempt.
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Townsend Bell and Carlos Munoz qualified fourth and fifth to give Andretti three spots in the top five. He’s driving in honor of his late brother, Justin, who was killed last August after being hit in the head with debris during a race at Pocono. Jack Brabham, Matt’s grandfather, made four starts in the 500 and finished a career best ninth as a rookie in 1961. Gates open at noon and the Indy 500 field will practice from 12:30-4 p.m.
