PENSKE - Verizon IndyCar Series Qualifying Report
Verizon IndyCar Series Qualifying Report
Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Race: The 100th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race
Date: May 22, 2016
Fast Time: 2:36.0063 -- 230.760 mph (No. 5 – James Hinchcliffe)
No. 2 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet – Juan Pablo Montoya
Position: 17
Time: 2:38.1141
Speed: 227.684 mph
Qualifying Recap: Juan Pablo Montoya returned to the track Sunday behind the wheel of the No. 2 Verizon Chevrolet as he attempted to earn a top-10 starting spot in next Sunday's Indianapolis 500 but he couldn’t improve his position and will start 17th in the 100th Running of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Montoya encountered a trash bag on his first qualifying attempt Sunday, and Verizon IndyCar Series officials voided his first run and granted him a second attempt. Montoya is the Indy 500’s defending champion and he won last year starting from the 15th position. He has won the race twice in his three attempts. He also won in his rookie season in 2000. The winner of the first race of the season in St. Petersburg, Montoya enters the Indy 500 unofficially ranked fourth in the series standings after the points earned in qualifying.
Quote: “What can you do? We had a good run going and then I ran over the trash bag. They gave us another shot, but that’s not ideal. We came from the back of the pack last year. It’s a long race and all kinds of things happen. My Verizon Chevy team will be ready on race day.”
No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet – Helio Castroneves
Position: 9
Time: 2:37.1265
Speed: 229.115 mph
Qualifying Recap: Helio Castroneves didn’t quite get the speed he expected from his No. 3 Pennzoil Chevrolet and as he earned a ninth-place starting position in the Indy 500 with a four-lap average of 229.115 mph. Castroneves, who is going for a record-tying fourth career victory at Indy, has started in the first three rows in 13 of his 16 Indy 500s. Castroneves could equal the record for most career victories with Al Unser, A.J. Foyt and Rick Mears with a win next Sunday. He previously won the race in 2001, 2002 and 2009. He also has four pole positions at Indy -- 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2010. Castroneves is now unofficially ranked third in the Verizon IndyCar Series standings following Sunday's qualifying results.
Quote: “In the end our Pennzoil Chevrolet had great balance but we didn't have the speed to get us on the front row. You don't need to be up front to win thankfully. I'm looking forward to getting the Chevrolet where we need to be and focus on the race ahead.”
No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet – Will Power
Position: 6
Time: 2:36.7471
Speed: 229.669 mph
Qualifying Recap: Will Power produced the best qualifying result of Team Penske’s four drivers as they secured starting positons in the second, third and sixth rows for 100th Indianapolis 500. Power, along with teammates Simon Pagenaud and Helio Castroneves had qualified for Sunday’s Fast Nine Shootout during Saturday’s first round of qualifying. Power recorded a four-lap average of 229.669 mph to put himself sixth on the grid for the May 29 race aboard his Verizon Chevrolet. It is Power’s seventh consecutive start in the first two rows at Indy. Last year, Power finished second behind teammate Juan Pablo Montoya in the race. He twice has started second -- in 2010 and 2015.
Quote: “Well, I just couldn’t get the Verizon Chevy up to speed. We were wide open all of the way around. The conditions were a little harder, so we added some downforce and, unfortunately, it just wasn’t fast enough. Despite that, I’m still proud of the Verizon Chevy team and very happy with the run and getting into the Fast Nine. It was fun to be there and, now, we’re looking forward to the race.”
No. 22 Menards Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet – Simon Pagenaud
Position: 8
Time: 2:37.1096
Speed: 229.139 mph
Qualifying Recap: Simon Pagenaud and the No. 22 Menards Chevrolet team moved up one position from his ninth-place effort Saturday to earn a spot in the third row for the start of the 100th Indianapolis 500. Pagenaud comes into the race on a tear, having won the previous three Verizon IndyCar Series races, including last week’s Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis. His qualifying effort was good for 28 points toward the Verizon IndyCar Series drivers’ championship. He now will officially carry an 83-point lead in the drivers’ standings into next weekend's race. This will mark Pagenaud’s fifth Indy 500 with his best finish coming in 2013 when he came home in eighth place.
Quote: “Well, we didn’t do as well as we would’ve liked. It was a little difficult being the first car out, but we ended up eighth and we’re happy with that. It’s actually a pretty good starting spot. We came here to win the race and that obviously is still out focus. I couldn’t be prouder of the whole Menards Chevrolet team. Everybody has worked so hard to give me a great car and I’m really excited for the race next week.”