Indy 500 qualifications pushed back to May 17

Via IndyCar.com

Persistent rain canceled the remainder of scheduled track activity May 16 on the first day of qualifications for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

A revised schedule for May 17 includes all 34 entries making one four-lap qualifying attempt on the 2.5-mile oval (10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET), followed by the “Fast Nine Shootout” in which the top nine cars return to determine the Verizon P1 Award and the first three rows for the May 24 race (1:45-2:30 p.m. on ABC). Finally, positions 31-33 will be determined in a 45-minute session to close the day.

The four-lap average qualifying speeds of Ryan Hunter-Reay (229.845 mph) and Carlos Huertas (228.235), who were the only drivers to beat the rain, were deleted. Two groups of cars are accorded track time in the morning from 8-8:20 a.m. and 8:20-8:40 a.m.

In the morning practice, Helio Castroneves, driving the No. 3 Shell V-Power Nitro+ Team Penske Chevrolet, recorded a lap of 233.474 mph. It was the fastest lap since Eddie Cheever Jr.’s lap of 236.103 mph in the 1996 race. That same year, Arie Luyendyk set the one- and four-lap qualifying records (237.260 mph and 237.498 mph).

Castroneves seeks to join A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as four-time Indy 500 winners, and he’s in contention for some pole history, too. Castroneves, with No. 1 qualifying efforts in 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2010, is one of three drivers with four poles, alongside Foyt and Rex Mays. A fifth this weekend would put him second among all-time pole winners, one behind Mears’ six.

Castroneves also could give team owner Roger Penske a record-extending 18th pole position.

In 2014, Ed Carpenter earned the Verizon P1 Award in the Fast Nine Shootout with a four-lap average speed of 231.076 mph. It was the second consecutive year that Carpenter started from the pole (11th time it’s happened). He’ll be seeking to become the first to earn the pole in three consecutive years. Twenty drivers have won from the pole – most recently Castroneves in 2009.

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