Raphael Matos (Luczo Dragon) was the fastest of all the drivers attempting to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 on the second day of qualifying that was to determine positions 12th through 22nd.
Even tough Matos' 223.429mph run would have put him a superb seventh on the grid had he produced it yesterday, it was Scott Sharp (Panther Racing) who stole the show when he succeeded in squeezing his car in 20th position, pushing out EJ Viso in the final seconds with his third qualifying attempt of the day.
Canadian Paul Tracy made it look easy today as he pushed his Dallara-Hinda to13th for KV Racing. Another Canadian was not so lucky as Alex Tagliani (Conquest), who had crashed in the morning's practice session, was never able to get up to speed and finished at the bottom of the time sheet.
Foyt driver Vitor Meira took 14th, with Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne Racing) the fastest of those relying on just one qualifying run as he claimed 15th.
Row six will be shared by Hideki Mutoh (Andretti Green), Ed Carpenter (Vision) and 2005 race winner Dan Wheldon (Panther). - the latter making up for crashing on a qualifying lap yesterday.
Series returnee AJ Foyt IV took 19th on his second qualifying attempt, having earlier brushed the wall on his first run.
Davey Hamilton was the sole member of the Dreyer & Reinbold quartet to get into the field today, taking 22nd behind Sharp and Sarah Fisher.
The final 11 places on the 33-car grid will be set next weekend. New entries are expected to join for the second week, including Townsend Bell in a third KV car, Oriol Servia with Rahal Letterman Racing, and 1996 winners Buddy Lazier and Hemelgarn Racing.
Current Indianapolis 500 grid:
Pos Driver Team Speed
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 224.864mph
2. Ryan Briscoe Penske 224.083mph
3. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 224.010mph
4. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 223.954mph
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi 223.867mph
6. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green 223.612mph
7. Mario Moraes KV 223.331mph
8. Marco Andretti Andretti Green 223.114mph
9. Will Power Penske 223.028mph
10. Danica Patrick Andretti Green 222.882mph
11. Alex Lloyd Schmidt/Ganassi 222.622mph
12. Raphael Matos Luczo Dragon 223.429mph
13. Paul Tracy KV 223.111mph
14. Vitor Meira Foyt 223.054mph
15. Justin Wilson Coyne 222.903mph
16. Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green 222.805mph
17. Ed Carpenter Vision 222.780mph
18. Dan Wheldon Panther 222.777mph
19. AJ Foyt IV Foyt 222.586mph
20. Scott Sharp Panther 222.162mph
21. Sarah Fisher Fisher 222.082mph
22. Davey Hamilton Dreyer & Reinbold 221.956mph
photo:IMS
Even tough Matos' 223.429mph run would have put him a superb seventh on the grid had he produced it yesterday, it was Scott Sharp (Panther Racing) who stole the show when he succeeded in squeezing his car in 20th position, pushing out EJ Viso in the final seconds with his third qualifying attempt of the day.
Canadian Paul Tracy made it look easy today as he pushed his Dallara-Hinda to13th for KV Racing. Another Canadian was not so lucky as Alex Tagliani (Conquest), who had crashed in the morning's practice session, was never able to get up to speed and finished at the bottom of the time sheet.
Foyt driver Vitor Meira took 14th, with Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne Racing) the fastest of those relying on just one qualifying run as he claimed 15th.
Row six will be shared by Hideki Mutoh (Andretti Green), Ed Carpenter (Vision) and 2005 race winner Dan Wheldon (Panther). - the latter making up for crashing on a qualifying lap yesterday.
Series returnee AJ Foyt IV took 19th on his second qualifying attempt, having earlier brushed the wall on his first run.
Davey Hamilton was the sole member of the Dreyer & Reinbold quartet to get into the field today, taking 22nd behind Sharp and Sarah Fisher.
The final 11 places on the 33-car grid will be set next weekend. New entries are expected to join for the second week, including Townsend Bell in a third KV car, Oriol Servia with Rahal Letterman Racing, and 1996 winners Buddy Lazier and Hemelgarn Racing.
Current Indianapolis 500 grid:
Pos Driver Team Speed
1. Helio Castroneves Penske 224.864mph
2. Ryan Briscoe Penske 224.083mph
3. Dario Franchitti Ganassi 224.010mph
4. Graham Rahal Newman/Haas/Lanigan 223.954mph
5. Scott Dixon Ganassi 223.867mph
6. Tony Kanaan Andretti Green 223.612mph
7. Mario Moraes KV 223.331mph
8. Marco Andretti Andretti Green 223.114mph
9. Will Power Penske 223.028mph
10. Danica Patrick Andretti Green 222.882mph
11. Alex Lloyd Schmidt/Ganassi 222.622mph
12. Raphael Matos Luczo Dragon 223.429mph
13. Paul Tracy KV 223.111mph
14. Vitor Meira Foyt 223.054mph
15. Justin Wilson Coyne 222.903mph
16. Hideki Mutoh Andretti Green 222.805mph
17. Ed Carpenter Vision 222.780mph
18. Dan Wheldon Panther 222.777mph
19. AJ Foyt IV Foyt 222.586mph
20. Scott Sharp Panther 222.162mph
21. Sarah Fisher Fisher 222.082mph
22. Davey Hamilton Dreyer & Reinbold 221.956mph
photo:IMS