To cap a wild Pole Day for the 100th anniversary Indianapolis 500, Alex Tagliani earned the pole position for the Indy 500 in the Fast Nine session in which seven different IZOD IndyCar Series teams were represented.
Twenty-four starting positions were filled on the first day of qualifications, and the remaining nine will be determined on Bump Day. That also portends to be another drama-filled day as at least 15 drivers are expected to make qualifying attempts to secure a spot in the May 29 race. Once 33 spots are filled, bumping begins. Each entrant receives three attempts.
Tagliani, the final driver to go out in the Fast Nine, is the first Canadian to earn the pole for the 500 Mile Race.
He recorded a four-lap average of 227.472 mph to swipe the award from Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon (227.340). Oriol Servia of Newman/Haas Racing will join them on the front row -- the first time since 1993 that the team has qualified on the front row.
"I think I'll be pinching myself until I go to bed," said Tagliani, whose No. 77 Bowers & Wilkins car for Sam Schmidt Motorsports topped the speed charts in practice throughout the week.
It's the first time since 2005 that cars from three different teams are on the front row.
Twenty-four starting positions were filled on the first day of qualifications, and the remaining nine will be determined on Bump Day. That also portends to be another drama-filled day as at least 15 drivers are expected to make qualifying attempts to secure a spot in the May 29 race. Once 33 spots are filled, bumping begins. Each entrant receives three attempts.
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| Alex Tagliani and Sam Schmidt (Photo: Ron McQueeney/IMS) |
Tagliani, the final driver to go out in the Fast Nine, is the first Canadian to earn the pole for the 500 Mile Race.
He recorded a four-lap average of 227.472 mph to swipe the award from Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon (227.340). Oriol Servia of Newman/Haas Racing will join them on the front row -- the first time since 1993 that the team has qualified on the front row.
"I think I'll be pinching myself until I go to bed," said Tagliani, whose No. 77 Bowers & Wilkins car for Sam Schmidt Motorsports topped the speed charts in practice throughout the week.
It's the first time since 2005 that cars from three different teams are on the front row.