Dario Franchitti earned his 31st Indy car pole, setting the pace in the Firestone Fast Six qualifying for the first race of the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans on June 1.
Franchitti, driving the No. 10 Suave car for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, recorded a best lap of 1 minute, 19.3311 seconds on the 2.346-mile, 13-turn street circuit during the 10-minute shootout. He'll receive the championship point and cash prize for earning the Verizon P1 Award, but he'll start 11th for the 70-lap race because of a 10-grid spot penalty for an unapproved engine change at Indianapolis.
It's the first earned pole in seven starts at Belle Isle for Franchitti, who won the CART race in 1999 and finished second to teammate Scott Dixon in the IZOD IndyCar Series race last June.
E.J. Viso was second (1:19.5572) in the No. 5 Team Venezuela PDVSA CITGO car for Andretti Autosport to tie his series-best qualifying effort in Brazil in May. Mike Conway, driving the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing car, qualified third.
James Jakes qualified a series-best fourth (previous high was eighth at Motegi in 2011) in the No. 16 Acorn Stairlifts car for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, while reigning series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay in the No. 1 DHL car for Andretti Autosport was fifth. Alex Tagliani, who led the morning practice session, qualified a season-high sixth in the No. 98 Barracuda Racing car.
Also incurring 10-grid spot penalties for Race 1 are Charlie Kimball, Josef Newgarden and Graham Rahal because of unapproved engine changes at Indianapolis.
Qualifications for the June 2 race will be held six hours before the start of Race 1 in the inaugural IZOD IndyCar Series doubleheader. All cars will participate in one of two groups for 12 minutes each, with five minutes of guaranteed green-flag time.
A driver who sweeps the weekend races will receive the $50,000 SONAX Perfect Finish Award. If no one wins both races at Belle Isle, the prize fund carries over to Toronto in mid-July ($100,000). If no one wins both of those races, the Houston doubleheader in early October will be worth $150,000.
DAY 1 NOTEBOOK:
The IZOD IndyCar Series will compete in the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans, a pair of 70-lap races at 3:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday and Sunday. Both races will be televised by ABC.
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Live timing and scoring reports from the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans are available on the Internet at racecontrol.indycar.com. The live timing and scoring module provides statistical information, including track segment speeds, lap information and much more.
Feature stories, reports, driver quotes and notes, and photos will be posted on the INDYCAR media web at media.indycar.com. More detailed information, including media advisories and VNF coordinates are also posted on the media web site. Media updates will also be provided on Twitter by following @indycarpr
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The following tire rules will be in effect for all Double Header Events:
14.14.6.4.1 Wet Tires: Wet tires may not be used prior to the Race without approval of the Race Director.
Doubleheader Event Race Weekends: A maximum of 6 sets of "wet" tires
Within 30 minutes of the completion of the session prior to the Race, an Entrant must declare via instant message or submission of declaration form to INDYCAR which compound it intends to use at the start of the Race. Failure to comply will result in the Entrant being allocated the compound by INDYCAR.
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Sebastien Bourdais will make the 100th Indy car start of his career in Saturday's Dual 1. The four-time Champ Car champion has 31 wins and 31 poles in his previous 91 starts.
SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS (No. 7 Dragon Racing Chevrolet): "Well, obviously, a 100th start doesn't make you any younger, does it? I haven't been thinking too much about it but last week I got a call and they were like, "Do you realize it is your 100th start?" And I was like, "Oh no, not really." But obviously I am just very fortunate to be around and try to get to run a lot. I still enjoying it as much as I used to enjoy it. I am hoping to kind of turn things around this weekend. It obviously hasn't been the start [to the season] that we were hoping for in 2013 but still a long way to go. I don't like to look back so much, just need to keep things in the past and just got to look ahead and try to get on the right foot again." (About his approach to the weekend): ""I'm not focused on the race as much as I am focused on getting the car right. I know if we get the car right we will have no reservations behind us at all. Mentally all that matters to us right now is to get the car figured out. "I'm not a wizard. I need the car under me, and so far we just haven't been able to do that. Somehow I am optimistic because I don't think the car has been far off it's just the density for the field right now."
Pre-practice Quotes from IZOD IndyCar Series drivers:
MARCO ANDRETTI (No. 25 RC Cola Chevrolet): "The season, so far, has gone pretty close to target for me. Obviously, I wanted Indianapolis pretty bad. But I think we are, as far as street courses go, we're knocking on the door and are a bit better. I'm not where I want to be yet, but I am in contention now. I really want to be challenging for wins and poles before I am sleeping pretty solid at night. Right now I'm still on the outside looking in for the top six by a couple of hundredths of a second. That part is frustrating, but I don't think it will be too hard to find because we've been working hard. Hopefully, we can start challenging for poles and that will tell me I can really win this championship. I truly believe I can win it now if things keep going the way it has. The team has given me great cars and my driving has been OK, so I'm pleased with where we are at." (About what has helped raise his and Andretti's game): "Last year, really. Ryan (Hunter-Reay) definitely upped the game of the team on the streets and it's good to able to chase him, but it's definitely a luxury to be able to have his data to figure out how to beat him. We can go do our homework and come back and beat him. It is also good to know that you have teammates that if you do beat them, you should be in contention to win. That's what it's been like. James (Hinchcliffe) beat me in both of my podiums, so consistency wise, I'm definitely pleased. I just need to be a bit better." (Does the format of the weekend change the way you race?): "I don't know. They both pay points. Obviously if you have a bad run on Saturday, you want to survive and finish on Sunday. I'm kind of in that case already for both days. I just want to finish where I can finish. Maybe get a position, but not trying to ask for something that's not there. I want to continue my consistency here. If we were to come out with good points, then I'll be really looking good." (How have you prepared mentally and physically for the weekend?): "It's more physically, honestly. Mentally, I just love driving a race car. Your body just has to be up for it. It's been really hard to prepare throughout the Month of May just because of the timing wise but energy-wise. It's a very busy throughout the month. I've been trying to get runs in during the Month of May, whether it was on the golf course or wherever. I did a 9-miler a couple of days ago and it was 88 degrees at home, so I felt great. I'm just going to hang in there and go. I don't think it will be one of those things where I'll be falling out of the seat on Sunday, but I'll definitely be feeling it afterwards."
RYAN BRISCOE (No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing Chevrolet): "This was a surprise, for sure. Certainly, it wasn't planned. But John Barnes gave me a call on Tuesday morning and asked what my availability looked like, and he said there was potential for something to happen this weekend. And we just got to talking from there and here we are. It's been a whirlwind for sure. But the team has done an amazing job in getting the car turned around and getting me all fitted and ready to go for today. I was pretty nervous, but I'm feeling good now that I'm here." (About his preparation for two races): "Well I wasn't preparing for it at all. But I think even though you can't compare Indianapolis to Detroit I did just spend the whole last month in an Indy car and I feel like I am comfortable in the cockpit, again. I have been doing plenty of racing this year, so I feel like I'm sharp and ready to go. Baltimore feels like yesterday, really, the last time I was driving one of these on a road course or street course. I'm feeling good, I'm feeling ready, I feel fit. Obviously, it is a great opportunity being a double header this weekend. It's more mileage. It's two races, so two chances to get up front and do a good job. So I think it is the perfect weekend for me to come back and give it a shot." (About ALMS commitment): "My commitment is full time with Level 5, including Le Mans. So any IndyCar races that I will be doing for the rest of the year will work around my commitment to those guys." (About challenge of little time in car before races): "You have to be on it. Get out there and see how the car feels. Just do the best you can. I feel like I have been here enough times, done plenty of miles in these cars and I'm hoping that it is not a problem getting up to speed. We'll see. It's a new tire that I haven't driven on. It's a new car. It's a different set ups to what I've driven before. So there's a lot to get used to. I am using Townsend Bells steering wheel, with his grips. But they felt good, where I am comfortable with using them. It's all new, it's all come together very quickly, but you know, I am just going to go out there and give them hell. Just try to go fast." (About partnership with National Guard): "It's an amazing partnership that National Guard has with Panther and with IndyCar racing. And what Panther does for them, with the employment program, it has been a huge help to the National Guard. It really is a honor to be a part of that program and I hope to represent them well."
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Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America and a lifelong racing enthusiast, will drive the 2014 Corvette Stingray Pace Car in the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans on June 1 and 2.
The Indy Dual in Detroit races are part of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix weekend of racing, May 31-June 2. Reuss will drive the Pace Car for both of the Indy Dual races.
MARK REUSS (President of General Motors North America): "The all-new, 2014 Corvette Stingray proved last week at Indy that it's at home on the racetrack, and we're excited to bring it home to Motown to pace the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit. To be able to drive this car, on this track, in this city, is a huge thrill for me personally, and I can't wait to get behind the wheel to pace this great field."
IZOD INDYCAR SERIES PRACTICE #1
At 11:15 p.m., the ambient temperature was 81 degrees with a relative humidity of 61 percent. Skies were mostly cloudy. The track temperature was 91 degrees, according to Firestone engineers.
11:15 a.m. - Session on hold for track cleanup.
11:17 a.m. - GREEN. Session will be run until 12:30 p.m. for the full 75 minutes.
11:18 a.m. - RED FLAG. #67 Newgarden has stopped on course in Turn 3. Car is towed back to the pit lane by the Holmatro Safety Team. Crew reports mechanical issue of unknown origin.
11:27 a.m. - GREEN.
11:33 a.m. - RED FLAG. #4 Briscoe does a quarter spin to the left in Turn 11 and is stopped on course. Car is restarted by the Holmatro Safety Team and returns to the pit lane under its own power.
11:36 a.m. - GREEN.
11:38 a.m. - RED FLAG. Wildlife on course in Turn 11.
11:44 a.m. - GREEN.
11:47 a.m. - RED FLAG. #9 Dixon is stopped on course between Turns 9 and 10. Car is towed back to the pit lane by the Holmatro Safety Team.
11:52 a.m. - GREEN.
11:56 a.m. - RED FLAG. #27 Hinchcliffe does a quarter spin to the right at the apex of Turn 1 and makes contact with the tire barrier at the exit of Turn 1 with the left rear of the car. Car does another quarter spin to the left and makes secondary contact with the wall. Car is restarted by the Holmatro Safety Team and returns to the pit lane under its own power with light damage to the rear of the car.
Noon - GREEN.
12:12 p.m. - RED FLAG. #16 Jakes has stopped on course at Turn 11. Car is towed back to the pit lane by the Holmatro Safety Team.
12:16 p.m. - GREEN.
12:30 p.m. - CHECKERED.
IZOD INDYCAR SERIES POST-PRACTICE QUOTES:
ALEX TAGLIANI (No. 98 Barracuda Racing Honda): "With only one practice session and qualifying coming up, it's very important for us to roll out of the truck fast. I'm really happy and the Barracuda Racing boys did a fantastic job. We were really good here last year - we qualified third - and if we can dodge bullets and get a bit of luck, this team is definitely capable of getting on the podium. That's what we need to aim for." (About the improvements to the circuit): "The Penske organization did a really good job with this track. There's been a lot of repaving that went on. The track is still bumpy but it's much nicer. I like the course the way it is because it's much more open. It's definitely a tricky course and you can get caught making a mistake easily, but I think we have a great car so that helps quite a bit."
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INDYCAR has updated its qualifying procedures for Race 2 of its IZOD IndyCar Series doubleheader weekends. All cars will continue to participate in one of two groups for 12 minutes each, with five minutes of guaranteed green-flag time. The procedures for determining the starting lineup for Race 2 have been updated as such:
The pole position will be awarded to the best overall lap time in the Race 2 qualifying sessions. The reminder of the cars from the pole sitter's qualifying group will occupy the odd-numbered positions on the starting grid, ranked by lap time, beginning with third.
Even-numbered starting positions will be filled by the other group, ranked by lap time, starting with second.
One point will be awarded to entrant and driver with the fastest time in each qualifying group.
In accordance with Rule 8.3.2.2 of the IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook, qualifying groups will continue to be determined by the combined times posted by entries during the practice session a day earlier. Group 1 will consist of odd-numbered positions on the practice time sheet, while even-numbered positions will comprise Group 2.
Qualifications for Race 1 will follow the regular three-round format, including the Firestone Fast Six, for road and street circuits.
QUALIFYING FOR THE VERIZON P1 AWARD:
Qualifying for the Verizon P1 Award consists of three segments. In Segment One of qualifying, each group receives 10 minutes of track time. The fastest six cars from each group advance to Segment Two, while the remaining cars are assigned positions 13-26. Group One drivers will occupy the odd-numbered positions (13, 15, 17...) while Group Two drivers will occupy the even-numbered positions (14, 16, 18...) based on their fastest lap times.
During Segment Two, the 12 advancing cars receive 10 minutes of track time. The fastest six advance to the Firestone Fast Six Shootout while the remaining six cars are ranked in positions 7-12 based on their fastest laps.
During the Firestone Fast Six, the six cars receive 10 minutes of track time, with a guarantee of five minutes of green flag time. At the end of the session, the cars are ranked 1-6 based on their fastest laps.
Any driver who causes a red flag during any segment will lose their two quickest laps.
Track record: Juan Pablo Montoya, 1:13.065 (June 2000). Fastest lap today: #98 Alex Tagliani, 1:18.2096 (Practice 1).
At 3 p.m., the ambient temperature was 73 degrees with a relative humidity of 78 percent. Skies were cloudy and rain is falling over the track. The track temperature was 82 degrees, according to Firestone engineers.
3 p.m. - GREEN. Segment 1, Group 1. Race Control has authorized the use of rain tires during the session.
3:08 p.m. - #83 Kimball spins and makes front-end contact with the barrier. Car continues on course and pulls off in a safe area.
3:10 p.m. - CHECKERED. Advancing to Segment 2 are: #98 Tagliani, #55 Vautier, #1 Hunter-Reay, #16 Jakes, #77 Pagenaud and #10 Franchitti.
3:18 p.m. - GREEN. Segment 1. Group 2.
3:28 p.m. - CHECKERED. Advancing to Segment 2 are: #14 Sato, #18 Conway, #12 Power, #5 Viso, #6 Saavedra and #3 Castroneves.
3:38 p.m. - GREEN. Segment 2.
3:44 p.m. - #3 Castroneves spins at the exit of Turn 3. Driver climbs from the car and crawls through the fence. RED FLAG. #3 Castroneves will lose his fastest lap for causing the red flag.
3:48 p.m. - CHECKERED. Advancing to Firestone Fast Six are: #1 Hunter-Reay, #10 Franchitti, #18 Conway, #98 Tagliani, #5 Viso and #16 Jakes.
3:58 p.m. - GREEN. Firestone Fast Six.
4:03 p.m. - IZOD IndyCar Series officials have penalized #10 Franchitti with a drive-through penalty for a pit speed violation at pit exit.
4:04 p.m. - Fastest is #18 Conway 1:19.8285
4:06 pm. - #5 Viso sets fastest lap in session, 1:19.5572.
4:08 p.m. - CHECKERED. #10 Franchitti sets fastest lap 1:19.3311 on his final lap. He wins Verizon P1 Award for Chevrolet Indy Dual at Detroit 1.
QUALIFYING FOR THE VERIZON P1 AWARD NOTES:
This is Dario Franchitti's second Verizon P1 Award of 2013 and the 31st pole position of his Indy car career. His most recent pole was Long Beach 2013
This is the first Belle Isle pole for Franchitti and third front row start at Belle Isle. He has only qualified outside of the top-10 once at Belle Isle.
E.J. Viso qualified second, matching his career best start of second at Sao Paulo in 2013. It is Viso's best start at Belle Isle, his previous best of fifth in 2012
Mike Conway qualified third. He started 15th in only previous start at Belle Isle
James Jakes qualified fourth. It is a career best qualifying result for Jakes. His previous best was 8th at Motegi 2011. It is Jakes first appearance in the Firestone Fast Six.
Ryan Hunter-Reay qualified fifth, matching his best qualifying result in 2007 Hunter-Reay has started no worse than seventh in three previous starts at Belle Isle.
Alex Tagliani qualified a season-best sixth. It is his second consecutive appearance in Firestone Fast Six at Belle Isle. He started third at Belle Isle in 2012
IZOD INDYCAR SERIES POST-QUALIFYING QUOTES:
CHARLIE KIMBALL (No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen Honda): "It was challenging to see this track for the first time in the wet during qualifying. I knew it was the last lap, so I was trying for it and just spun, hit the wall a little bit and bent up the left front of the car. We've have a grid penalty in this race already so we'll learn what we can and be ready for qualifying tomorrow morning and then the race tomorrow and on Sunday."
JUSTIN WILSON (No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda): "It's disappointing that the Boy Scouts of America Honda didn't get beyond the first round of qualifying. The track was drying fast towards the end of the session and you always want to try and cross the start/finish line as close to the last guy as possible. But the car was a bit of a handful out there. We were just skating around and didn't quite have the grip we needed. It's just the way it goes, and we'll keep working away at it. I think we've got a pretty good race car and we'll just take tomorrow as it comes."
JOSEF NEWGARDEN (No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda): ""The rain caught us off guard. We already had a 10 place penalty so we already had a hole to dig through regardless. It was one of those deals where we didn't get everything pulled together and then just got caught out by the rain. I think we have plenty of speed in the SFHR car though and we'll do just fine tomorrow. I think we have everything we need to do well."
ED CARPENTER (No. 20 Fuzzy's Vodka/Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet): "Last year in the rain at Mid-Ohio, I was too aggressive and got off the track. So I wanted to be more conservative with the rain conditions and the new Firestone wet tire. Being in the second group in round one, the track was drying more and the times were quicker. Our group just wasn't ready for slickers just yet though. Judging the conditions will be the name of the game this weekend with rain expected again on Saturday. So anything can happen and I'm not sure it matters where you start for the race. Last year, after the track came up, the rain changed things in the race. So it will be real crap shoot in both races this weekend."
SIMONA DE SILVESTRO (No. 78 Nuclear Entergy Areva KVRT Chevrolet): "It was kind of a weird session because the track was drying and on my last lap I lost the car in the last turn. I almost crashed and had to lift and that cost us the advancement, which is a bit frustrating because the team did a good job with the Nuclear Clean Air Energy car, and that mistake cost us. But, it's going to be a long race tomorrow and we'll just work from here."
SIMON PAGENAUD (No. 77 Schmidt Hamilton HP Motorsports Honda): "It's always difficult on a street course to move up in the field. I'm very disappointed. Our car was good enough for the Firestone Fast 6. HP did a fantastic job today and so did Honda. Unfortunately we got caught out with bad officiating. When there's a danger on the race track, what do you do? You either throw a red flag or yellow flag the whole session. But you don't throw a yellow flag and then a red flag because everyone gets hosed. We didn't put in a quick lap under yellow because we respected the rules. We are the only ones who did and now we're starting ninth when we had a chance to start much higher. I'm very upset about it and rarely raise my voice about issues, but this is unfair."
TRISTAN VAUTIER (No. 55 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda): " "I think if someone had told us we would qualify seventh after our poor practice session where we didn't manage to run more than two laps in a row we wouldn't have believed them. The thing is that Helio (Castroneves) was behind me when he spun, so I was the last car not affected by the incident. They let other drivers complete their laps but did not let us complete the lap. We had potential to be in the Firestone Fast 6, but sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don't. We turned things around well for qualifying after our bad practice session so we're happy about that. We'll be ready for tomorrow." -- Tristan Vautier
MARCO ANDRETTI (No. 25 RC Cola Chevrolet): "I got sent out for qualifying with double the rear tire pressure that there was meant to be. It's extremely frustrating because the RC Cola Chevy was definitely good enough to advance once the problem was solved... but I only had time for one out lap - which almost advanced me but wasn't enough in the end. I will come back swinging tomorrow to try to score enough points to keep the (championship points) lead."
RYAN HUNTER-REAY (No. 1 DHL Chevrolet): ""It was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it. With the rain, and the drying track. It keeps you nervous, it keeps you on your toes. You are always searching on every lap for that tenth of a second. Which is a lot of fun in these cars. So that was cool. I just don't know where the speed went that last round because in the Top 12 we were 80.2 and then we only went two tenths quicker in the Fast Six. So we got to look at that. A little disappointed with it, but we are in the Fast Six. We are starting up front. So we should be able to go and have a good day. Unfortunately Mike Conway is here crashing the Fast Six party again. You can never count him out."
AJ ALLMENDINGER (No. 2 IZOD Team Penske Chevrolet): "This track is so technical that it is tough to learn in such a short amount of time, but I need to be better in the Quicken Loans Chevrolet. It was a tough adjustment getting used to the rain but that looks like something we need to prepare for this weekend. We will come back tomorrow ready to compete and see what we can do."
HELIO CASTRONEVES (No. 3 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet): "The track was wet and when the red tires were put on the Hitachi Chevrolet, the track was dry. My frustration wasn't spinning out but the fact that I couldn't get the car in reserve. I was going backwards and forwards and it wouldn't work and once you stall the car, that's it. So definitely a frustrating time for us. The car was good and it should have been a great run for our Hitachi Chevy. We will move on and look forward to the race tomorrow."
RYAN BRISCOE (No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing Chevrolet): "Obviously the mixed conditions today made it difficult to really get the most out of the National Guard car on the first outing. I'm still really just getting familiar with the racecar, the wheel, and everything that goes along with it. I was really hoping that qualifying would be dry, because I felt like we all had a good feeling coming out of morning practice. But that's the beauty of this weekend being a doubleheader is that we've got two shots at it - we'll see what tomorrow morning brings us, but I really feel like a Top Ten is a good goal for qualifying tomorrow and we'll try to build on that."
E.J. VISO (No. 5 Team Venezuela PDVSA Citgo Chevrolet): "Very excited. It will be my first pole in IndyCar. I've been in pole in other car races, but being in pole in IndyCar is definitely one of my targets, my aims that I wanted to accomplish. And little by little working with this group things are starting to come together. I am very proud of all this hard work that we have been doing as a team, as a crew. I am very excited about this year." (About being at the front for a street race): "It is good. I think it has given me some good chances to stay in the front and be sure I'm going to have a competitive car. We have proven that so far. And I'm really looking forward to it."
DARIO FRANCHITTI (No. 10 Suave Honda): "Thank you to the Target boys because I bent the car up this morning and they did a great job getting the Suave car ready again and I just hung on to it. I think I was a long shot to get through Q1. I did four laps in practice this morning. It was interesting obviously with the rain in the first session, getting through in that, and then the drying track and fully drive there really in the end, so we had all the conditions there. I have to thank the engineering group, we had a really tough Indianapolis and to back with a pole is great, obviously with a 10-spot grid penalty tomorrow. I'll do the best from where we start.
TONY KANAAN (No. 11 Hippino.com KV Racing Technology-SH Racing Chevrolet): "Well, that's definitely not the qualifying that I was expecting coming off of a win in Indy. The qualifying session started wet and my Hippino.com Chevy Firestone car was fast in those conditions, but as soon as the track started to dry I could not keep up with the other guys. We'll continue to work on the setup for the qualifying session for Sunday's race and get that one sorted out before we go green on tomorrow's race."
WILL POWER (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet): "Certainly not what we expected to get out of the session with the Verizon Chevrolet. It's mixed up at the front, which it seems to be every week now, so that should make for interesting racing tomorrow. As you've seen in previous races you can still have a strong race starting tenth, so we will come out with a good plan and try to make our way to the front."
TAKUMA SATO (No. 14 ABC Supply A.J. Foyt Racing Honda): ""Interesting qualifying. After the torrential rain, the track was drying out quickly. We were comfortably the quickest in the semi-wet conditions so we were confident about qualifying today. In the second segment we did a check run on black tires and then came in for the reds. We went back out and on my out lap a car had spun in turn 3, bringing out a local yellow. I had to back off for traffic the next lap and it was still a local yellow in 3. Then when I was on my hot lap, they called for the red flag for no reason, so I never got to finish the hot lap. It's just very frustrating for the team and the effort they put in."
GRAHAM RAHAL (No. 15 Midas/Big O Tires Honda): "I was pretty happy with the Midas/Big O Tires car; I thought it wasn't too far off. I just got caught up in traffic with Helio and Briscoe and Ed. And finally I came out of traffic behind Helio and Dixon and still in it but I tried to push a little harder and the rear tires were gone. On the last lap, when Dixon spun we were up more than two-tenths (of a second on his best lap time) and we would have made it to the top six to progress but hey, what can you do? That's part of it. With our engine change penalty we will start towards the back so we have some work to do in the first Duel. I really like the rain. The one race I won in the series was in the rain most of the time. Every time we race in the rain I seem to do better so I'm totally fine if it rains in the race Saturday. I'd be happy."
JAMES JAKES (No. 16 Acorn Stairlifts Honda): "Obviously it was tough on everyone with the weather conditions, and I think the biggest thing was just staying patient, really. I was out with the first group of the first 12 and it was quite a bit wetter. You just had to make sure you had a clean lap at the end of the session with a couple of a minutes to go to maximize the potential of the car. I think we did that. I've been pretty happy with the pace all weekend, especially in practice this morning. The balance with the reds changed quite a bit, so we still have quite a bit of work to do. Obviously with the weather coming in, and the forecast tomorrow, starting as high up as you can is going to be key, and we got a great position."
MIKE CONWAY (No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda): ""It was obviously a bit dryer in our session. The tires started to go pretty quick. So obviously one tire, and then you try have to back off and cool the tires down and go for another one and that was enough to put me through. Obviously the other two [segments] after that were still tricky. The drying conditions at the end there beat the tires up pretty hard. I think we went out maybe a little too early, but to be third straight back in the car again is good. Obviously a good starting position for the race."
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE (No. 27 GoDaddy Chevrolet): "The GoDaddy car felt really good -- I just needed another lap. When you are in these conditions, you're taking it cautious... but I couldn't be too cautious because I knew the circumstance and every lap you are going to find speed within yourself and the track is drying on top of that. We had two things working against us. We ran the car through tech prior to qualifying and something in there held us up a bit. We didn't get the car into pit lane until the session had already gone green... with conditions like these you are learning every lap and we did three laps less than everyone else. Then, what really got us was the fact that we were the first car to get the checkered flag. When you are in drying conditions, the last car to cross the line is in the best situation. When I crossed the line I was in P3; at the end I was in P11. So for how few laps we did and the fact that we were the first guys to get the checker... it's an effort. We did everything we could but circumstances in every way shape and form were working against us today."
ALEX TAGLIANI (No. 98 Barracuda Racing Honda): ""It's really nice to be back in the front. Obviously we struggled a little bit with the new tires this year from the beginning of the year. We worked a lot, the team work a lot, and I was kind of nervous a bit at the beginning to unload the car, being a one car team there's not too many chances. We didn't know it yet, but the car was really fast so we were really happy about that. The team did a great job with that. Qualifying car was really good too. We made some changes and at the end we knew we had a chance at the pole and we kind of messed up the car a bit. So that was unfortunate because the car was really fast, so hopefully we can make it up in the race."
