From drivers and the IRL
source:
irl.racing-live.com
Getting twenty-two drivers into the field for the
2005 Indy 500 proved to be both exciting and interesting as new qualifying
procedures passed their first real world test.
"We consider today to be an overwhelming success," said Vice President of
IndyCar Series Public Relations, John Griffin. "It certainly fell in line with
the potential we believed it had, as we had a fight for both the pole and the
twenty second spot occurring in the final minutes of the session. With Helio
Castroneves out there trying to take the pole, and Tony Kanaan sitting in line
ready to take it back if necessary, the fans were on their feet in anticipation
of what could happen."
The pole fight would be a battle between Indy 500 legend Roger Penske and the
new IndyCar Series powerhouse, Andretti Green Racing. Both of Penske's drivers
would pull previously qualified cars from the field as they looked to improve
their already solid starting positions.
Castroneves gave up the fourth spot in the last half hour of qualifying so he
could take another shot at the pole position held by AGR's Tony Kanaan.
Interestingly, it was a decision he thought was being made as a team, though in
the end Roger Penske left it up to Castroneves to decide.
"Roger said, 'It's your decision!' 'I'm like RP you're kidding me, now you're
telling me this, it's my decision?'" recalled a laughing Castroneves who won the
2003 pole position with a similar maneuver. "I'm going to go for it otherwise I
won't sleep tonight. Yes, it's a gamble. It's a huge gamble. The good news is we
just lost a position, I was thinking in the positive way (about what could be
gained)."