Rain again a factor in Indianapolis 500 qualifying; speeds being cut

Ray Slover

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Rain again a factor in Indianapolis 500 qualifying; speeds being cut image

Rain washed out Saturday's qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, so hopefully Sunday will be the day that sets the 33-car field for "the greatest spectacle in racing."

Sunday, however, could see more rain in central Indiana.

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Ryan Hunter-Reay was one of two drivers to get in four qualifying laps before rain arrived. And as defending champion of the Indianapolis 500, Hunter-Reay showed he again has the speed to win.

Hunter-Reay's 229.845 average speed was wiped out, meaning he must repeat his blistering run around the 2.5-mile track. No problem.

"You just have to wait for it and keep your thoughts cool and calm and collected and get on with the job," Hunter-Reay told reporters on Saturday. "It's not a big deal. It's OK."

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However, Indy officials decided to reduce horsepower in all cars after a third spectacular crash in a week at the track.

Setting the field means one of the 34 cars entered won't run May 24's Indy 500. It also will determine starting position for the 11 rows of three open-wheeled racers.

Sunday, weather permitting, 30 cars will lock into the starting grid. The fastest nine cars are scheduled to bid for places on the first three rows in another speed trial. Then, the final three cars will be set.

It's doubtful Ed Carpenter will be the fastest qualifier for the third consecutive year. He crashed early Sunday. Carpenter was not injured, but his car was wrecked.

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It was the third such crash in a week involving cars with Chevrolet engines. All three lost control and went airborne.

With new aerodynamic packages on cars at Indy, safety concerns are higher than ever. According to USA Today, neither Honda nor Chevy, whose engines power all the cars in the field, have found obvious design flaws in the Dallara-chassis machines that would cause cars to go airborne.

Contributing: Associated Press

Ray Slover