INDIANAPOLIS -- This Memorial Day weekend’s 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 already features record qualifying speeds, the possibility of a record-setting victory and one of the most diverse 33-car fields ever to contend for one of racing’s most iconic trophies.
And that’s all happened before the green flag drops Sunday.
New Zealander Scott Dixon will start from the pole position for the fifth time in his career thanks to a blazing four-lap record qualifying speed of 234.046 mph in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. It’s the fastest Pole Day speed since the late Scott Brayton’s 1996 pole-winning average of 233.718 mph.
Reigning NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou and Dutch driver Rinus Veekay will start alongside the 41-year old Dixon in the traditional three-wide Indianapolis grid. Four Ganassi cars will start in the first two rows. All five Ganassi cars advanced to the final round of qualifying.
“I think that’s kind of what we all secretly thrive on, right?’’ six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Dixon said of his incredible qualifying performance and speed. “It’s about getting it right, obviously, but to live on that edge is an amazing feeling and when you do nail it, there are a lot of moving parts. It’s never one person.
“I was lucky enough to drive that car. [Teammate Tony] Kanaan did a hell of a job in setting it up and all the crew people. It’s just a huge knock-on effect. To be able to carry that across the line in the fashion that we did, that’s what it’s all about. Days like these are amazing.’’
You need speed to start well and of course, you need speed to finish well – something this year’s field is well-equipped for.
An impressive 26 of the 33 starters surpassed 230 mph in qualifying – noteworthy for the speed and considering there are seven Indy 500 rookies in the field.
On the other side of experience, there are eight former Indy 500 champions on the grid - and one very-popular four-time winner: Brazilian Helio Castroneves.
Last year, Castroneves tied the race’s high-total, four-victory mark – a record held only by Indy legends A.J. Foyt, the late Al Unser and Rick Mears. And Castroneves is eager to become the only five-time winner with a clutch performance this Sunday.
He has his work cut out, however, with a disappointing 27th place starting position in the No. 06 Meyer-Shank Racing Honda – farther back on the grid than he would prefer, but not completely out-of-question for him to challenge for a trophy. He has won from as far back as 13th starting position (2002) and in 2009 won from pole. Last year he started eighth and claimed his fourth win dueling it out with eventual season champion Palou swapping the lead three times in the final seven laps.
In fact, between 2012-2016 none of the Indy 500 winners started better than 11th. In 2014, Ryan Hunter-Reay won from the 19th position on the grid. Three-time Indy winner Johnny Rutherford earned one of his trophies (1974) after starting 25th.
New to the Indianapolis 500 field this year are two high-profile drivers who established themselves in other forms of racing – former Formula One regular Romain Grosjean and the much-anticipated Indy 500 debut for seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.
Both had outstanding maiden qualifying performances with Grosjean set to start the No. 28 Andretti Honda ninth and Johnson, who has been Top-10 fastest in every practice session, will roll off 12th in the No. 48 Chip Ganassi Honda – a sister car to pole-winner Dixon.
Although this is Grosjean’s first run on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis oval, Johnson has visited the famed Victory Lane here four times competing in NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 – a mark absolutely on par with the greatest IndyCar drivers here Foyt, Unser, Mears and Castroneves.
Johnson won from pole position in 2008 and has led a total of 227 laps in his four Indy wins, including a dominant 61 percent of laps in (99 of 160) in his last victory in 2012. His last stock car race at Indy was in 2019, but his 18 starts at Indianapolis essentially gives him more veteran status than most of the Indy 500 starting field.
Johnson’s father Gary will be spotting in Turn 3 for him and his longtime, championship NASCAR crew chief Chad Knaus will be attending the race as Johnson’s guest.
“I haven’t had much time to think about it and place it, but I can definitely say I’m enjoying it more,’’ Johnson said of his time preparing for his Indianapolis 500 debut.
“Instead of being so focused on just the work side, I’m enjoying the different moments. I’m letting my mind relax a little bit, look around and smell the roses-type moments, which was not how I operated my [NASCAR] Cup career.
“I was pretty focused and didn’t take time to savor the experience and the moment. I feel like I’m doing a really good job of that. … Not only performance on being on track, but the fan support, the energy on pit lane and everything I experienced [in qualifying] was really more than I expected. I know it’s nothing like what we’re going to see on Sunday here.
“So just savoring every moment that I can.’’
