The Indianapolis Motor Speedway track had warmed up to mid fifties for the second/final day of qualifying for the Best of the Rest – Positions Ten through 22 for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500.
And it was Juan for Ten, as in JUAN PABLO MONTOYA/No.2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet going the fastest. He ran the fastest single race lap here all week – 231.540 ph on his first of his four-lap qualifying run. His average was 231.007, fastest of all thirty-three drivers….so far.
Of the 24 drivers, five cracked 230+, including SCOTT DIXON/No.9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, who ran a 230.928 mph- faster than Saturday’s fastest time.
JPM SAID “Overall the car has good speed, we were a little more aggressive this morning, and we trimmed it out. With all the rain this week, we couldn’t do much. Montoya is one person who has raced the car in three different events at IMS – Indy 500, F1 and NASCAR. He won the 2005 Indianapolis 500.
“It was awesome yesterday, but it sucked I wasn’t in the Top Nine. But for the fans I think it was really exciting.
As for starting in the middle, JPM said “There’s more single file running. If you’re leading you don’t want to be a sitting duck.”
“And it’s pretty cool to have four Colombians in the race” – JPM, SEBASTIAN SAAVEDRA/No.17 KVAFS Racing Chevrolet, Rookie CARLOS HUERTAS/No.18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda, and CARLOS MUNOZ/No.34 Andretti Autosport Honda.
Third fastest was Rookie KURT BUSCH/No.26 Andretti Autosport Honda, making him the top Rookie for the race. On his heels is another fast Rookie, JACK HAWKSWORTH/No.98 BHA/BBM with Curb Agajanian Honda, and JUSTIN WILSON/No.19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda.
The infamous last row consists of Rookie SAGE KARAM/No.22 Dreyer and Reinbold-Kingdom Racing Honda, Saavedra; and BUDDY LAZIER/No.91 Lazier Partners Racing Chevrolet.
Next up is the Top Nine Shootout, for the Pole Position for the 2014 Indianapolis 500.