May 23, 2012
(Phillip G. Abbott - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
Twenty-one-year-old rookie Josef Newgarden (No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman/Dollar General Honda) was the fastest Honda-powered qualifier in 7th place. "We went out and did our run," Newgarden said. "It was a little hairy. I definitely wanted to abandon the run at some point, but you have to keep with it. That's how it is around this place in qualifying, and it's a little bit hairy some times. The team has done a phenomenal job. I know we aren't the quickest right now, but I really think we have the quickest car in the field. I hope we can race well. I think we'll be able to put a good race car together for Sunday. There's been so many hours put in from all of our guys. It's a team effort from Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. The race is the big show for us. That's where we want to shine. Wherever we land today, we'll try and get ourselves as far up as possible and then we'll prioritize for the race."
INDIANAPOLIS - Qualifying Results Sunday for the 96th Indianapolis 500 IZOD IndyCar Series event on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with rank, car number in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, time and speed in parentheses:
1. (2) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:38.9514 ( 226.484)
2. (27) James Hinchcliffe, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:38.9537 ( 226.481)
3. (28) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:39.1233 ( 226.240)
4. (26) Marco Andretti, Dallara- Chevrolet, 02:40.6766 ( 225.456)
5. (12) Will Power, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:39.7004 (225.422)
6. (3) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:39.8780 (225.172)
7. (67) Josef Newgarden, Dallara-Honda, 02:40.6879 (224.037)
8. (11) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:40.1775 (224.751)
9. (5) EJ Viso, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:40.4119 ( 224.422)
10. (8) Rubens Barrichello, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:40.5253 ( 224.264)
11. (98) Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda, 02:40.7144 ( 224.000)
12. (38) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 02:40.7437 ( 223.959)
13. (25) Ana Beatriz, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:40.7720 ( 223.920)
14. (83) Charlie Kimball, Dallara-Honda, 02:40.8093 ( 223.868)
15. (9) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 02:40.9413 ( 223.684)
16. (50) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 02:41.0144 ( 223.582)
17. (19) James Jakes, Dallara-Honda, 02:41.0866 ( 223.482)
18. (4) JR Hildebrand, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:41.1299 ( 223.422)
19. (15) Takuma Sato, Dallara-Honda, 02:41.1517 ( 223.392)
20. (99) Townsend Bell, Dallara-Honda, 02:41.3377 ( 223.134)
21. (18) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 02:41.4865 ( 222.929)
22. (30) Michel Jourdain, Dallara-Honda, 02:41.5124 ( 222.893)
23. (77) Simon Pagenaud, Dallara-Honda, 02:41.5138 ( 222.891)
24. (17) Sebastian Saavedra, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:41.5720 ( 222.811)
25. (7) Sebastien Bourdais, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:40.8666 (223.760)
26. (41) Wade Cunningham, Dallara-Honda, 02:41.2484 (223.258)
27. (22) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:41.8754 (222.393)
28. (20T) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:41.9262 (222.324)
29. (14) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 02:41.9293 (222.319)
30. (6) Katherine Legge, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:42.4374 (221.624)
31. (39) Bryan Clauson, Dallara-Chevrolet, 02:47.6671 (214.455)
32. (78) Simona De Silverstor, Dallara-Lotus, 02:47.9162 (214.393)
33. (64) Jean Alesi, Dallara-Lotus, 02:51.3516 (210.094)
(Phillip G. Abbott - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
This is the first time Chip Ganassi Racing has failed to qualify a car in the first three rows of the Indianapolis 500 since 2005. Ganassi Racing has Graham Rahal starting 12th, Charlie Kimball 14th, Scott Dixon (above) 15th and Dario Franchitti, 16th.
(F. Peirce Williams - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
1963 Indianapolis 500 winner Parnelli Jones visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last Friday. It is the 50th anniversary of Jones turning the first 150-mph lap at The Speedway, when he won the pole for the 1962 Indianapolis 500. Thanks to The Speedway, who asked Jones a few questions, for providing a transcript for us.
What do you think of the 2012 car design? Parnelli Jones: "I think they're safer than the cars last year. I think that was very important. I think they've done some great things to make them safer. I think with these cars having so much ground effects that they're pretty easy to drive. It appears that way to me. Not that it doesn't take talent to drive these cars in the first place, but I think one of these days we'll get the car to where you have to back off at the end of the straightaway a little bit and put a little more emphasis into the driver and not so much into the car."
Didn't you go through a transitional phase when you were a driver, as well? Parnelli Jones: "We went through a transition, too, with the front-engine roadsters to the rear-engine cars. I even drove the side car, which was the turbine (powered) car. So I've had it all the way around. Of course, I've been here many years as a car owner, too, with Al Unser Sr., winning here a couple of times. So it has changed over the years, and it's hard to go backward, but we need to find ways to just make racing safer and more entertaining."
Do you enjoy coming back to the famed 2.5-mile oval? Parnelli Jones: "It's like a reunion, so to speak. Every year I come back. I used to like it really well when the (Speedway) hotel was here. I had closed-circuit in the room, and I could know everything going on at the track. Also, I could jump out and play golf when I wanted. I didn't realize how good I had it. Now we stay downtown at a great hotel, the J.W. Marriott. I enjoy coming back and being with my friends and seeing all of my friends."
(Phillip G. Abbott - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
(Michael L. Levitt - INDYCAR/LAT Photo USA 2012)
(Holman Photography)
The BorgWarner Louis Schwitzer Award is presented to General Motors and Ilmor engineers by Jim Baily from BorgWarner. The annual award distinguishes engineers for innovation and engineering excellence related to the Indianapolis 500 race. From left: Matt Wiles and Mark Kent from GM; Jim Bailey from BorgWarner; Steve Miller from Ilmor Engineering and Steve Holman from the Indiana Section of SAE International.
(GM)
Restaurateur, best-selling author and host of the Food Network’s hit show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” Guy Fieri will drive the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Pace Car to lead the field of 33 drivers to start the 2012 Indianapolis 500 on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “There are races and then there are races,” said Fieri. “And without a doubt, the Indy 500 is the race that I’ve always wanted to attend. And now, to be driving the Corvette Pace Car… this is going to be unbelievable.” Fieri is an avid classic car collector, owning a red 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible that is featured on his show. Among others, Fieri also has a 2011 Camaro SS convertible, 2007 Corvette, 1970 Chevelle SS 454, 1967 C10 pickup, 2006 Kodiak C4500 4X4, 2006 Silverado 2500 and a 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV.
(Chevrolet)
Chevrolet has announced the return of a V-8 powered, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan to its U.S. lineup, the Chevrolet SS. The SS will also be Chevrolet’s next NASCAR Sprint Cup race car and will debut in its race configuration at the 2013 Daytona 500. The limited production version of the Chevrolet SS will be a 2014 model and will arrive in dealer showrooms in late 2013. It is the first time in 17 years that Chevrolet will offer a rear-wheel-drive sedan for sale in the United States. The Chevrolet SS will be a derivative of the global rear-wheel-drive architecture shared by performance vehicles like the Chevrolet Camaro and Holden’s upcoming VF Commodore. GM suggests that the Australian-built car will benefit from significant technology advances which enhance overall performance. “As a passionate race fan and performance enthusiast, I am thrilled that Chevrolet will deliver a true rear-wheel-drive NASCAR racecar in the SS that is closely linked to the performance sedan that will be available for sale,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. “The Chevrolet SS is a great example of how GM is able to leverage its global product portfolio to deliver a unique performance experience that extends beyond the track. I am personally looking forward to driving it.”
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD
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