Ganassi’s Dario Franchitti was the fastest driver in the first qualifying session prior to the first of two IndyCar races presented this weekend in Detroit. Nevertheless, he will have to start 11th because of an unauthorized engine change at the Indy 500.
Because of the penalty, Andretti Autosport EJ Viso will start from the front row slot even though his best lap was 0.2 seconds down on Franchitti's. New Dale Coyne Racing driver Mike Conway was third fastest.
James Jakes finished fourth, in his first-ever Fast Six appearance, with Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alex Tagliani rounding out the top six.
A heavy shower immediately prior to the first session forced the first group to qualify on a soaking wet track, although a dry line began to appear as the afternoon progressed.
There was consternation from several teams, including Schmidt Peterson Motorsport and AJ Foyt Enterprises, who felt that they were unfairly compromised by what they considered to be inconsistencies in how the flags were used.
A separate qualifying session for the Sunday race will take place on Saturday morning.
Qualifying results – Detroit (IndyCar)
1.Ernesto Viso (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 1'19"5572 - Q3
2.Mike Conway (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Rahal - 1'19"8285 - Q3
3.James Jakes (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Rahal - 1'19"9897 - Q3
4.Ryan Hunter-Reay (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 1'20"0030 - Q3
5.Alex Tagliani (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Herta - 1'20"3514 - Q3
6.Tristan Vautier (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Schmidt - 1'22"4997 - Q2
7.Takuma Sato (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Foyt - 1'22"7164 - Q2
8.Simon Pagenaud (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Schmidt - 1'22"8250 - Q2
9.Will Power (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 1'22"9537 - Q2
10.Sebastian Saavedra (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Dragon - 1'26"8058 - Q2
11.Dario Franchitti (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 1'19"3311 - Q3*
12.Helio Castroneves (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - no time - Q2
13.AJ Allmendinger (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 1'37"7163 - Q1
14.Sebastien Bourdais (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Dragon - 1'37"8023- Q1
15.Scott Dixon (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 1'30"6929 - Q1
16.Justin Wilson (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Coyne - 1'37"8891 - Q1
17.Simona de Silvestro (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 1'31"0623 - Q1
18.Marco Andretti (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 1'38"0723 - Q1
19.Tony Kanaan (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 1'31"5555 - Q1
20.James Hinchcliffe (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 1'38"2000 - Q1
21.Ryan Briscoe (Dallara DW12-Honda) - 1'31"6222 - Q1
22.Ed Carpenter (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Carpenter - 1'34"4391 - Q1
23.Graham Rahal (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Rahal - 1'30"5258 - Q1*
24.Josef Newgarden (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Fisher - 1'38"8651 - Q1*
25.Charlie Kimball (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 1'44"0316 - Q1*
*Engine change
Because of the penalty, Andretti Autosport EJ Viso will start from the front row slot even though his best lap was 0.2 seconds down on Franchitti's. New Dale Coyne Racing driver Mike Conway was third fastest.
James Jakes finished fourth, in his first-ever Fast Six appearance, with Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alex Tagliani rounding out the top six.
A heavy shower immediately prior to the first session forced the first group to qualify on a soaking wet track, although a dry line began to appear as the afternoon progressed.
There was consternation from several teams, including Schmidt Peterson Motorsport and AJ Foyt Enterprises, who felt that they were unfairly compromised by what they considered to be inconsistencies in how the flags were used.
A separate qualifying session for the Sunday race will take place on Saturday morning.
Qualifying results – Detroit (IndyCar)
1.Ernesto Viso (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 1'19"5572 - Q3
2.Mike Conway (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Rahal - 1'19"8285 - Q3
3.James Jakes (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Rahal - 1'19"9897 - Q3
4.Ryan Hunter-Reay (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 1'20"0030 - Q3
5.Alex Tagliani (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Herta - 1'20"3514 - Q3
6.Tristan Vautier (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Schmidt - 1'22"4997 - Q2
7.Takuma Sato (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Foyt - 1'22"7164 - Q2
8.Simon Pagenaud (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Schmidt - 1'22"8250 - Q2
9.Will Power (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 1'22"9537 - Q2
10.Sebastian Saavedra (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Dragon - 1'26"8058 - Q2
11.Dario Franchitti (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 1'19"3311 - Q3*
12.Helio Castroneves (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - no time - Q2
13.AJ Allmendinger (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 1'37"7163 - Q1
14.Sebastien Bourdais (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Dragon - 1'37"8023- Q1
15.Scott Dixon (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 1'30"6929 - Q1
16.Justin Wilson (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Coyne - 1'37"8891 - Q1
17.Simona de Silvestro (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 1'31"0623 - Q1
18.Marco Andretti (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 1'38"0723 - Q1
19.Tony Kanaan (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 1'31"5555 - Q1
20.James Hinchcliffe (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Andretti - 1'38"2000 - Q1
21.Ryan Briscoe (Dallara DW12-Honda) - 1'31"6222 - Q1
22.Ed Carpenter (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Carpenter - 1'34"4391 - Q1
23.Graham Rahal (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Rahal - 1'30"5258 - Q1*
24.Josef Newgarden (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Fisher - 1'38"8651 - Q1*
25.Charlie Kimball (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Ganassi - 1'44"0316 - Q1*
*Engine change