INDIANAPOLIS – The drama at Saturday’s first day of qualifications for the 105th Indianapolis 500 didn’t come at the front of the grid, but at the back.
That Scott Dixon was able to set the fastest four-lap average of the day as the first driver to hit the track when qualifications was no surprise. Dixon, the 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner and six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion ran a four-lap average of 231.828 mph around the 2.5-mile oval in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing when qualifications began at Noon.
Nobody could knock Dixon off the top of the scoring pylon, and he will be the last driver to make a qualification attempt in Sunday’s Fast Nine that runs from 3 to 3:45 p.m. Eastern Time.
RESULTS: Indianapolis 500 Qualifying Day One
The surprise, however, is one of the greatest pole winners in IndyCar history, a man with 62 career poles — second only to Mario Andretti’s 67 most poles in his career, is going to have to make the race through the Last Chance Shootout.
That driver is Team Penske’s Will Power, who was bumped out of the top 30 in Saturday’s first round of qualifications after the Team Verizon driver ran a four-lap average of 229.052 mph. He made a second attempt in the heat of the day at 229.258 mph, but that was not fast enough to get locked into the top 30.
Power, the 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2014 NTT IndyCar Series champion, was in line to make one more qualifying attempt, but Simona De Silvestro was on the track when qualifications concluded at 5:50 p.m. and Power was still in the tech line.
When Dalton Kellett pulled his time, he wasn’t competing against Power’s previous run. Kellett completed a run and stayed 30th. De Silvestro did not beat that time and then the session ended as time expired.
Power joins De Silvestro, Sage Karam, R.C. Enerson and Charlie Kimball as the five drivers that will have to compete in the Last Chance Shootout that begins at 1:15 p.m. ET and will set the final row of the Indianapolis 500.
By not making the top 30, the highly publicized Paretta Autosport team that is working in conjunction with Team Penske with De Silvestro as the driver will also have to survive the Last Chance Shootout in order to make the race.
Thirty-four other car/driver combinations tried to knock Dixon off the top of the scoring pylon but were unsuccessful.
“To have all four cars in the Fast Nine is pretty massive, especially with the competition level we have these days,” Dixon said after finishing the session with the fastest four-lap average. “Obviously a huge shout-out to Honda for bringing the performance that they have.
“For us it was just that first run, made a little bit of a mistake which definitely cost us a bit of speed. Tomorrow will be a different day; it’s going to be different conditions. Hopefully all four of us can hit it right.”
Colton Herta of Andretti Autosport came the closest to Dixon’s speed when he completed a four-lap average of 231.648 mph in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda for Andretti Autosport.
“Before Fast Friday I didn’t really know exactly what to expect,” Herta said. “I thought it could be similar to last year. Honda obviously proved that. Yeah, great job from them.
“Obviously, it means a lot to drive for Honda. It feels good to drive for Honda. Obviously living in Santa Clarita, down the road from HPD.
“Everybody did a spectacular job on my car. We got out there for two runs and learned a lot, put ourselves in the Fast Nine, so happy days.”
Tony Kanaan was third at 231.639 mph in the No. 48 American Legion Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.
“I would say I’m not back in the Fast Nine, it’s my first time in the Fast Nine — pretty cool to be there,” Kanaan said. “Like Dixon said, the team did a stellar job prepping the cars. Honda, I remember last year. We were on the other side. It’s good.
“There’s still tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to be a whole different day. But it’s good to know I’m locked in. It’s a good feeling.”
Three-time Indianapolis 500 pole winner Ed Carpenter was the fastest Chevrolet, fourth on the grid at 231.616 mph. His GMR Grand Prix winning teammate Rinus VeeKay was fifth at 231.843 mph in the No. 21 Bitcoin Chevrolet.
“We have two cars in the top nine and I think we have just as good of a shot at winning a pole tomorrow as any of these guys,” Carpenter said. “I’ve been in this position enough times before.
“That’s the beauty of qualifying here, you have to go out and do four laps. We only get one chance at it tomorrow. That amps up the pressure again. Everyone has to make what they think is the best decision. After we all run four laps, we’ll find out who is the best.
“For me, we have everything we need to go fight for it. That’s what we’ll do. I think we’re carrying the flag for Chevrolet ourselves, Sonax, Bitcoin, everyone that is a part of what we do
“Just as competitors, these guys talking about you get nervous. Yeah, you get nervous qualifying. I think being in a position like Scott before, going first out, I think it’s always harder to be the first one to go out anyway. It’s nice to watch a couple guys go. Even after doing it for 17 years, I feel like if you don’t get a little nervous or anxious, you probably don’t care any more.
“Hopefully we can go out and have some fun.”
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves was sixth in the No. 06 Honda for Meyer-Shank Racing.
“The AutoNation / SiriusXM car was very solid,” Castroneves said. “Qualifying went exactly how we practiced it yesterday – we were actually a bit quicker than we anticipated which was perfect. Our goal was to get in the top nine so that we could have a shot at pole tomorrow and we did that. Tomorrow is a different day though and we’ll work to find some more speed overnight and be back at it for qualifying tomorrow.”
Young Alex Palou of Spain was seventh at 231.145 mph in the No. 10 NTT Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing at 231.145 mph. Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy 500 winner, was eighth at 231.139 mph in the No. 28 DHL Honda for Andretti Autosport. Marcus Ericsson was the last driver to make the “Fast Nine” in qualifications as the Chip Ganassi Racing driver completed a four-lap average of 231.104 mph in the No. 8 Honda.
Although Palou crashed later in the day while making a second attempt, he did it from the no risk lane, which means his previous qualification speed still stands. His Chip Ganassi Racing team is currently repairing the No. 10 NTT Data Honda after Palou lost control of the car and crashed in turn two at 3:34 p.m. ET.
Alexander Rossi, the 100th Indianapolis 500 winning driver, was the first driver outside of the Fast Nine. He is locked into the 10th starting position at 231.046 mph in the No. 27 NAPA Honda.
Kellett is the last driver locked in to his starting position as the A.J. Foyt Racing driver completed a four-lap run at 228.323 mph in the closing moments of qualifications.
The stage is now set for Sunday’s final round of qualifications that will determine the starting lineup for the 105th Indianapolis 500.