Motegi : IRL Qualifying Report
source:
irl.racing-live.com
Sam Hornish, Jr scored his fourth career IndyCar
Series pole during qualifications for the Indy Japan 300 at Japan's Twin Ring
Motegi oval. Going out near the end of the qualifying line with speed inducing
cloud cover moving over the track, Hornish turned a lap of 26.7266 seconds as he
ruined Danica Patrick's bid for her first career pole.
"I feel the car was perfect," said Hornish. "It was just a little tiny bit loose
on my first time by, then after that it was great. The car handled really well.
The whole Marlboro Team Penske guys, they do an awesome job. They make sure that
I've always got something good to run out there from engineering (perspective)."
Besting Patrick by just 0.0311 seconds, Hornish's lap was good for 204.740 miles
per hour and keeps Honda from the pole at their own race track. Honda had gone
winless in all previous races on the Motegi, Japan oval until Dan Wheldon
notched their first victory last season.
In just her fourth IndyCar weekend, Danica Patrick backed up solid practice
times with an impressive qualifying run that nearly kept Honda on top.
"First time here, she started off conservatively, and she's just really done
a great job. Like I've always said she can stand on it. She did it when it when
she needed to," said team owner Bobby Rahal.