After being absent for a long time, bumping came back to IndyCar qualifying. The excitement that had been missing returned along with the shattered hopes of some racing teams. Under the threat of rain and a rain delay, the qualifying went without incident. However, the shock was the elimination of James Hinchcliffe and Pippa Mann. Both of the drivers are fan favorites and Hinch is one of the IndyCar series top drivers and lead driver for the Schmidt/Peterson Honda team. Helio Castroneves was the fastest Saturday qualifier. There were lanes for qualifying. The first lane was for first time qualifiers and the second lane was for cars that wished to re-qualify. Connor Daley was bumped out but bumped his way back in. Danica Patrick, in her final racing appearance, found some speed and made the fast nine with a shot at the pole in the Sunday shot. Chevy engines and Team Penske dominated the speed charts.
Sunday came and again skies were gray. However, the runs for starting position went on as scheduled, with positions 10 through 33 with drivers running in the order of their previous day’s run times. Daley wasn’t able to improve his run time and will start in the 33rd position. One of the big shocks was Alexander Rossi who struggled with handling problems. The 2016 winner will start 32nd. Defending champ Takuma Sato will start 16th.The fastest qualifier was Tony Kanaan driving for Foyt Racing. He will start 10th even if his time was actually faster than Scott Dixon in 9th but he didn’t make the fast nine on Saturday. Kanaan’s teammate, 19 year old Matheus Lest of Brazil starts in 11th and is the fastest rookie as well as the youngest driver in the field.
The pole run of Ed Carpenter had to be the month’s most exciting moment. The 37-year-old Butler grad gave the home town crowd a reason to cheer as he claimed his third career Indy pole. He is joined on the front row by Penske drivers Simon Pagenand and Will Power. Nine of the twelve fastest qualifiers are powered by Chevy engines. Sebastien Bourdais is the fastest Honda driver, starting in 5th place. There are six rookies in the field. Castroneves and Kanaan are both 43 years old and are the oldest drivers in the field. There are 17 Chevy engines and 16 Hondas. Danica Patrick is the only lady starter this year.
Rookie Robert Wickens banged his car up against the wall during the Monday practice session. He wasn’t hurt and his car will be repaired by Carb Day. No word yet on the possible lifting of the local TV blackout. Jim Cornelison will sing “Back Home Again” for the second year in a row. The power voiced singer is nationally famous for his rendition of “The National Anthem” to open Chicago Black Hawk games. Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson will sing the National Anthem. Actor Chris Hemsworth will serve as the Honorary Celebrity starter. So next stop is Sunday and “Drivers Start Your Engines!”
Two Down One to Go
Three year old super thoroughbred Justify won the second leg of the Triple Crown. The Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race course in Baltimore was run on a foggy rainy day with muddy track conditions. It didn’t matter. He led all the way. Jockey Mike Smith was again aboard. For trainer Bob Baffort it was his 15th Triple Crown win which ties him for the all time record for Triple Crown wins, Baffort also trained American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown winner. Justify won $9000,000 for his owner. Bravazo finished second and Tenfold was third.
The Belmont Stakes is the last leg of the Crown series. It will be run on June 9th at Belmont Park near New York City.
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