Canadian driver James Hinchcliffe, who almost lost his life in practice crash at Indianapolis while driving Schmidt’s No. 5 black-and-gold Honda past year, stole pole position away from young American driver Josef Newgarden during the final qualification run on Sunday afternoon.
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Hinchcliffe will be joined on the front row for next Monday’s centennial showcase by two Americans, Josef Newgarden and 2014 Indy 500 victor Ryan Hunter-Reay.
In one of the more dramatic finishes to qualifying in IMS history, Hinch snatched the pole position away from Josef Newgarden on the final run of Sunday afternoon by the fourth-closest margin ever.
James Hinchcliffe, of Canada, celebrates with vehicle owner Same Schmidt after winning the pole during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 22, 2016.
Team owner Sam Schmidt, like Hinchcliffe, was a popular IndyCar driver when he was seriously injured in a 2000 crash at Walt Disney World, which rendered Schmidt a quadriplegic.
James Hinchcliffe’s story of pain and recovery has been well-chronicled since a practice crash at last year’s Indy 500.
Scott Dixon poses for the traditional photo at the yard of bricks after qualifying races for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Newgarden withstood challenges from Townsent Bell, who went out fifth in an Andretti Honda; three-time 500 victor Helio Castroneves of Team Penske; former series champion Will Power of Team Penske; former 500 victor Ryan Hunter-Reay in an Andretti Honda. “I really wanted it, but I didn’t know if we had enough to get it. James has been quick and Ryan has been so consistent, and I thought James was going to have a similar run”.
“We went back in and made the auto a little bit better”, the Canadian said. He took the provisional pole position qualifying after averaging 230.287 miles per hour.
“I came into this month hoping we’d have a new story to talk about, ” he said. Drivers will compete for positions 10-33 until 4:45 p.m, then the Fast 9 from yesterday’s qualifying round will shoot out for the pole position from 5:00 until 6:00 p.m.
“He was one of the greatest assets to have with everything that happened past year, especially to my family and to my parents, because he had been through something like that”, Hinchcliffe said.
“It was a good first lap”, Newgarden said. The ensuring injury required life-saving surgery and forced one of the series’ most popular drivers to miss the season’s final 11 races as he fought his way back to racing. “Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson put me in the auto and gave me the vehicle to do it”. Hinchcliffe is on the pole in a Honda, which has not won a race this season.
Australia’s Will Power will start from sixth while compatriot Matt Brabham qualified 27th.
Townsend Bell and Carlos Munoz make it three Andretti Autosport cars inside the top five, with Will Power completing the second row, while Mikhail Aleshin, championship leader Simon Pagenaud and Helio Castroneves make up row three.
“James, he’s kind of downplaying this thing”, Schmidt said.
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But we all know, the true goal arrives next Sunday: “to win the 100 Indianapolis 500”.
