-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Latest Headlines: NASCAR
-
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
IndyCar
INDYCAR: Power, Chevy Score Pole Position In Sao Paulo
Qualifying for the Sao Paulo Indy 300 went down to the final moments, with Team Penske's Will Power stealing pole by a scant .04 from Ganassi's Dario Franchitti.
After two weeks of fears and converns from the Chevy camp regarding Honda's new turbo housing, Team Penske's Will Power came out on top in qualifying at Brazil. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)
Qualifying for the Sao Paulo Indy 300 went down to the final moments, with Team Penske's Will Power stealing pole by a scant .04 from Ganassi's Dario Franchitti.
The Scot held pole with just a few minutes left, but the Aussie took the top spot with a lap of 1:21.40 and circulated as Franchitti tried to improve his time.
The Honda-powered reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion would bring the gap down with a final lap of 1:21.44, but didn't have enough to displace his Chevy-powered rival.
"It's good to put the Verizon Chevrolet on the pole," said Power. "It was satisfying, especially knowing that Honda seems to have an advantage on the straights at the moment, so being on pole is a good start to the weekend. I have a feeling it's going to be wet, or maybe wet-dry for the race so it will mix things up a lot."
With Saturday's rain waiting to fall until after qualifying, and the forecast calling for more showers on Sunday, the 75-lap race could be a crapshoot depending on how the weather factors into the event.
Franchitti lamented a mistake on his fastest lap which could have kept him ahead of Power.
“It’s been a pretty good weekend so far for Team Target," he said. "We’ve obviously had a difficult start to the season. We off-loaded with a good Lexar car and made some improvements to it. I’m a bit disappointed in qualifying, especially because the time is in the car. On the first lap, Justin (Wilson) was in the runoff in the hairpin so I took it a bit easy there. And then the next lap I just messed it up to be honest, and I actually made up all of the time back again. The time was in the car, I didn’t put it together. I’m a little disappointed in myself but at the same time I feel a lot more happy than I have in the last few races.”
Franchitti's teammate, Scott Dixon, overcame a brief tour into the Turn 11 runoff and rebounded to qualify third with a lap of 1:21.85.
“We had a pretty good car," said the Kiwi. "It was fairly loose, which is a bit odd actually for this year. Q2 was okay. We ended up second or third there and thought we could go for the top spot in Q3. We went out and went straight through the run-off in Turn 1 and couldn’t slow the car down; the brakes were a bit strange. Then we went down into Turn 11 and the left-front locked straight away with a big flat spot and I went into the run-off. I had to get turned around and then take a lap to get going. We got back to third. I was lucky that some of the other cars were a bit slower to get up to speed.”
Andretti Autosport had an impressive turn in the Firestone Fast 6, placing James Hinchcliffe in fourth and Ryan Hunter-Reay in fifth.
“I guess four is the number of the day: fourth place, fourth time in the Firestone Fast 6," said Hinch. "It’s certainly not a bad starting spot to be on the first two rows, but we had a competitive car in (the second qualifying session) and were hoping for a little bit higher up. I need to get a better handle on how to make these tires work better on the second run. We’re steadily improving and if we can keep that trend up for the race we’re looking good."
Dale Coyne Racing's Justin Wilson closed out the Fast 6--his first of 2012--with a somewhat distant 1:22.26-second lap around the 11-turn, 2.5-mile street course.
"It’s great to make into the Firestone Fast 6 for the first time this year," said the Brit. "We’re really pleased with that. I was hoping to get a bit more once we got in there. We made the right changes to get into the Fast 6 but the last change was bad. We messed that up. It was a bit of a handful. Oh well, that’s how it goes. We’re starting sixth, we’re in a good spot and we’ll see what happens."
Power's pole lap of 1:21.40 in the Dallara DW12 eclipsed the 1:21.89 he set last year in the Fast 6, and with Honda's recent turbo housing change, the Fast 6 was split evenly with three Chevys and three Hondas. The Fast 12 was also split evenly at 6/6.
PHOTOS: Click Here or on the image below to view INDYCAR: Sao Paulo Indy 300 2012
The Scot held pole with just a few minutes left, but the Aussie took the top spot with a lap of 1:21.40 and circulated as Franchitti tried to improve his time.
The Honda-powered reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion would bring the gap down with a final lap of 1:21.44, but didn't have enough to displace his Chevy-powered rival.
"It's good to put the Verizon Chevrolet on the pole," said Power. "It was satisfying, especially knowing that Honda seems to have an advantage on the straights at the moment, so being on pole is a good start to the weekend. I have a feeling it's going to be wet, or maybe wet-dry for the race so it will mix things up a lot."
With Saturday's rain waiting to fall until after qualifying, and the forecast calling for more showers on Sunday, the 75-lap race could be a crapshoot depending on how the weather factors into the event.
Franchitti lamented a mistake on his fastest lap which could have kept him ahead of Power.
“It’s been a pretty good weekend so far for Team Target," he said. "We’ve obviously had a difficult start to the season. We off-loaded with a good Lexar car and made some improvements to it. I’m a bit disappointed in qualifying, especially because the time is in the car. On the first lap, Justin (Wilson) was in the runoff in the hairpin so I took it a bit easy there. And then the next lap I just messed it up to be honest, and I actually made up all of the time back again. The time was in the car, I didn’t put it together. I’m a little disappointed in myself but at the same time I feel a lot more happy than I have in the last few races.”
Franchitti's teammate, Scott Dixon, overcame a brief tour into the Turn 11 runoff and rebounded to qualify third with a lap of 1:21.85.
“We had a pretty good car," said the Kiwi. "It was fairly loose, which is a bit odd actually for this year. Q2 was okay. We ended up second or third there and thought we could go for the top spot in Q3. We went out and went straight through the run-off in Turn 1 and couldn’t slow the car down; the brakes were a bit strange. Then we went down into Turn 11 and the left-front locked straight away with a big flat spot and I went into the run-off. I had to get turned around and then take a lap to get going. We got back to third. I was lucky that some of the other cars were a bit slower to get up to speed.”
Andretti Autosport had an impressive turn in the Firestone Fast 6, placing James Hinchcliffe in fourth and Ryan Hunter-Reay in fifth.
“I guess four is the number of the day: fourth place, fourth time in the Firestone Fast 6," said Hinch. "It’s certainly not a bad starting spot to be on the first two rows, but we had a competitive car in (the second qualifying session) and were hoping for a little bit higher up. I need to get a better handle on how to make these tires work better on the second run. We’re steadily improving and if we can keep that trend up for the race we’re looking good."
Dale Coyne Racing's Justin Wilson closed out the Fast 6--his first of 2012--with a somewhat distant 1:22.26-second lap around the 11-turn, 2.5-mile street course.
"It’s great to make into the Firestone Fast 6 for the first time this year," said the Brit. "We’re really pleased with that. I was hoping to get a bit more once we got in there. We made the right changes to get into the Fast 6 but the last change was bad. We messed that up. It was a bit of a handful. Oh well, that’s how it goes. We’re starting sixth, we’re in a good spot and we’ll see what happens."
Power's pole lap of 1:21.40 in the Dallara DW12 eclipsed the 1:21.89 he set last year in the Fast 6, and with Honda's recent turbo housing change, the Fast 6 was split evenly with three Chevys and three Hondas. The Fast 12 was also split evenly at 6/6.
PHOTOS: Click Here or on the image below to view INDYCAR: Sao Paulo Indy 300 2012
2013 INDY 500 Practice
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
INDYCAR: Pagenaud Leads Indy 500 Carb Day Practice
After getting whooped in qualifying, Honda turns up the wick for… -
GRAND-AM: Valiante Joins 8Star For Mid-Ohio
Daytona Prototype ace to sub for Stephane Sarrazin in next month's… -
MILLER: My Annual Indy 500 Quiz
It’s time for Robin Miller's annual Indy 500 quiz. -
INDYCAR: Miller's Mailbag, 5.23
It's time for SPEED.com's weekly IndyCar Q&A with Robin Miller's… -
INDYCAR: HIPPINO.com To Sponsor Kanaan At Detroit
Just a few weeks after announcing the KV Racing-SH Racing entry of… -
PHOTOS: Indy 500 Practice & Qualifying 2013
Enjoy a huge collection of photos from practice and qualifying while… -
LE MANS: BoP Adjustments For GTE Announced
GTE-Pro Aston Martins handed extra weight, larger restrictor for… - More News
