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INDY 500: Dixon Leads Final Pre-Pole Day Practice
Written by:
Jeff Olson
Senior writer, RACER Magazine http://www.racer.com/speedtv
Senior writer, RACER Magazine http://www.racer.com/speedtv
05/09/2008 - 06:28 PM
Indianapolis, Ind.
Scott Dixon laid down the fastest number heading into Pole Day. (LAT photo) ยป More Photos
The rain has had its say on the preparation for pole qualifying for the 92nd Indianapolis 500. Now it’s time for the drivers and machines to have their say.
Working on as little as 12 hours of practice after Friday’s session was washed out halfway through, top teams will take their shot at the first 11 positions for the May 25 race when qualifying begins Saturday at noon ET.
The big prize, of course, is the pole position and the $100,000 that goes with it, and that appears to be firmly in the grasp of three familiar teams – Andretti Green Racing, Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske. Among the favorites from that list are Helio Castroneves, who won the pole last year; Tony Kanaan, who won the pole in 2005; Scott Dixon, who had the fastest lap during Friday’s session; and Marco Andretti, who has been at or near the top of the time sheets throughout the rain-shortened week.
Their choice Saturday – especially with the additional entries provided by unification – will be whether to make a serious run at the pole or lie back and accept another spot on the first, second or third row of the grid.
“You’re going to know early on whether you’re in
Dixon's best lap Friday -- 226.968 mph -- in the No. 9 Ganassi Dallara-Honda was just slightly better than Andretti, Kanaan and Ryan Briscoe, who has been fast throughout the week in the No. 6 Penske Dallara-Honda. Others showing speed during Friday’s three hours of track time included Dan Wheldon, Vitor Meira, Danica Patrick, Tomas Scheckter and Castroneves.
“We’re in good shape for tomorrow,” Castroneves said. “I’m not concerned with the other drivers’ speeds today because a lot of them were getting tows. It will be interesting to see who has what.”
Wheldon took the opposite approach of his Ganassi teammate, indicating he’ll put it on the line to win the pole. “Everybody worked hard to get good racecars and fast racecars in order to get us up front,” Wheldon said. “We’d be letting those guys down if we didn’t really go for it. We definitely feel we have a car capable of the pole.”
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