© Oak Park Journal photo
Sunday, May 15, 2005 – 2004 IRL IndyCar® Series champion Tony
Kanaan went out early in qualifying, posted the best time and then waited...inside his car.. until Castroneves second try failed to unseat him. His patience was finally rewarded.
“We made a couple adjustments to pick up more downforce so
we’d have more grip around the track," said Kanaan, who posted qualifying laps of 227.821 mph, 227.771, 227.459 and 227.212. "I’m pleased with my run. I think I pushed too hard too soon, but I’m pleased with the run."
IndyCar Series rookie Danica Patrick also had consistent lap speeds --on her final three (227.638, 227.623 and 227.860). But the first lap
of 224.940 mph (she had to lift when the car developed a wiggle coming out of Turn 1) prevented her from challenging for the pole.
She will start on the inside of Row 2.
"We just missed it a little bit," Patrick said.
Danica Patrick
© Oak Park Journal photo
Patrick, became the highest-placed woman in “500” history, joined by two-time race winner Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti.
Castroneves had posted the fourth-best time earlier in the session,
but Marlboro Team Penske owner Roger Penske withdrew the time
at 5:50 p.m. for Castroneves to make a run at the pole.
Driving the No. 3 Toyota-powered Dallara, Castroneves started strong with a lap of 227.330 mph. But he fell off the pace and fell one spot to
fifth on the grid.
The front row for the May 29 classic is comprised of IndyCar Series champions (Kanaan, 2004; Hornish, 2001 and '02; and Sharp, 1996 co-champion). It is Kanaan's sixth career pole, and his first for the 500-Mile Race. INDIANAPOLIS - Qualifying Sunday for the 89th Indianapolis 500 IRL IndyCar Series event on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with starting position, car number in parentheses,
driver, chassis-engine and four-lap average speed. Top 22 positions
filled today; final 11 positions to be filled May 21-22:
1. (11) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 227.566
2. (6) Sam Hornish Jr., Dallara-Toyota, 227.273
3. (8) Scott Sharp, Panoz-Honda, 227.126
4. (16) Danica Patrick, Panoz-Honda, 227.004
5. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Toyota, 226.927
6. (27) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 226.873
7. (17) Vitor Meira, Panoz-Honda, 226.848
8. (55) Kosuke Matsuura, Panoz-Honda, 226.397
9. (95) Buddy Lazier, Dallara-Chevrolet, 226.353
10. (2) Tomas Enge, Dallara-Chevrolet, 226.107
11. (4) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Chevrolet, 226.031
12. (36) Bruno Junqueira, Panoz-Honda, 225.704
13. (9T) Scott Dixon, Panoz-Toyota, 225.215
14. (5) Adrian Fernandez, Panoz-Honda, 225.120
15. (37) Sebastien Bourdais, Panoz-Honda, 224.955
16. (26) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 224.308
17. (24) Roger Yasukawa, Dallara-Honda, 224.131
18. (7) Bryan Herta, Dallara-Honda, 223.972
19. (10) Darren Manning, Panoz-Toyota, 223.943
20. (70) Richie Hearn, Panoz-Chevrolet, 222.707
21. (44) Jeff Bucknum, Dallara-Honda, 221.521
22. (51) Alex Barron, Dallara-Toyota, 221.053
© Oak Park Journal
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
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