Four-time race victor Jimmie Johnson did it in 2008 and 2009 though the first win in that sequence came during the tire fiasco that forced caution flags to come out every 10 or 11 laps.
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Tony Stewart qualified third for his final Indianapolis start, while a returning Jeff Gordon starts 21st. Busch also won the pole for the Lilly Diabetes 250. “They know I’m old and not in the kind of shape that I was, but of any track that I can think of coming to, heat or no heat, and come and do a good job for this team, it’s right here in Indianapolis”.
Gordon retired after last season but is taking the place of Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Before getting the call from Hendrick, there were plans to have Gordon drive the pace auto Sunday. “We are working with Doctor Billow and the team at the hospital to make sure we have the ability to take care of anybody that might be dehydrated”, Boles said. His fast lap of 185.616 came in the first round.
“Oh boy”, Gordon said. The only driver who did not qualify was Josh Wise.
“It’s definitely pretty special to be running the way we’ve been running and to have the success we’ve had the last couple of years here at Indy”.
ROUGH ROAD: Hendrick Motorsports’ tough month continued Saturday.
When Gordon arrived in NY from France on Tuesday, he was picked up by one of Hendrick’s private planes and returned to Concord.
Brad Keselowski piloted his Penske Ford to the fifth qualifying position with a speed of 183.591 miles per hour and was the only Ford representative in the top twelve.
Among the notable drivers who failed to advance from the opening qualifying round in which the top 24 advanced to the next round were A.J. Allmendinger in 25th and Kasey Kahne in 26th.
Brad Keselowski was the lone Ford in the top 12, qualifying fifth.
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“Jeff has had a unique opportunity to see the sport from a totally different angle, and certainly watching cars and I know he’s formed some opinions watching other racecars and where the Toyotas might beat us”, Johnson said.
