Ed Carpenter captured the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 in Saturday’s time trials, edging rookie Carlos Munoz and withstanding a last-ditch bid by Australian Will Power.
Carpenter, a 32-year-old American stepson of current IndyCar series founder Tony George, was only fifth-fastest in the first round of time trials at the famed 2 1/2-mile (4km) oval where the 97th Indy 500 will be staged on May 26.
But that was enough to put Carpenter, the only owner/driver in the series, into the “Fast Nine” final qualifying session among the quickest racers to determine the exact starting order for the front three rows.
With early rain shortening the day’s activities, each car was given one chance to post a four-lap qualifying average in the final session, drivers making their runs in reverse order to the speeds they had posted.
Carpenter took the tentative pole with a four-lap run that averaged 228.762 mph (366.019 k/hr) and the time stood despite scares from Munoz, a 21-year-old Colombian newcomer, and Power, who led the early session at 228.844 mph.
“Victories were great, but an Indianapolis 500 pole is the best,” Carpenter said. “This is the start of a dream come true. This is just the first part of what we want to do.”
Carpenter, a two-time IndyCar race winner, had the fastest pole average in seven years and improved upon his best Indy 500 starting spot, which had been eighth.
Carpenter will start on the inside of the front row beside Munoz, who was second in the final runs at 228.342 mph, with American Marco Andretti on the outside of row one.
Venezuela’s E.J. Viso, American A.J. Almendinger and Power comprise the second row with US defending series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, Brazil’s Helio Castroneves and Canada’s James Hinchcliffe in row three.
Power threatened Carpenter with a first lap of 229.119 mph in his final run but his second lap of 228.375 mph put him just off the pole pace and when his last two laps were slower yet, Carpenter had clinched the top spot.
In all, 24 positions on the grid were decided on Saturday for the 33-car field. The final three rows will be determined in Sunday’s last qualifying session.
Britain’s Katherine Legge was hired Saturday to drive for former IndyCar racer Sam Schmidt, producing 34 car-driver combinations and ensuring someone will not make the lineup on Sunday.
Legge qualified 30th and finished 22nd last year in her Indy 500 debut. Her best finish in 10 IndyCar starts was ninth.
“I’m psyched to get back in the car, especially at Indy because this is such a special place,” Legge said. “I’m so excited.”
Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro was the slowest qualifier Saturday at 225.226 mph. If she, Brazil’s Ana Beatriz and Britain’s Legge and Pippa Mann can make the field, it would match the record of four women Indy 500 starters from 2010 and 2011.
Carpenter captures Indy 500 pole
