Second-Row Start for Dixon, Honda in INDYCAR Grand Prix Qualifying
• Scott Dixon qualifies fourth on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course
• Sebastien Bourdais also advances to final round of “knockout” qualifying
• Honda drivers claim seven of the top 12 grid positions for Saturday’s race

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (May 12, 2017) – Scott Dixon and Sebastien Bourdais led the way for Honda Friday in Verizon IndyCar Series qualifying on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Both advanced through the first two rounds of “knockout” qualifying to take part in the “Fast Six” shootout to set the top six grid positions, with Dixon claiming fourth on the starting grid for Saturday’s 85-lap race, while St. Petersburg race winner Bourdais will start sixth.

Honda drivers also claimed all but one of the second-round qualifying positions. Ryan Hunter-Reay, Alexander Rossi, James Hinchcliffe, Marco Andretti and Tony Kanaan will all start eighth through 12th, respectively, in the 22-car field.

The fourth annual INDYCAR Grand Prix of Indianapolis, precursor to the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 28, starts Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EDT, with live network television coverage on ABC.

Scott Dixon (#9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) qualified 4th: “I think we unloaded fast and had a good start to the day with the NTT DATA car. The second practice didn’t really allow us to lay down a good lap with the timing of the red flag at the end of the session. I’m pretty happy with the car, but some of the other guys are going to be hard to beat. I think it will be an interesting race, and anything can happen here.”

INDYCAR Grand Prix
Circuit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2.439-mile road course) Indianapolis, IN
2016 Winner: Simon Pagenaud (Team Penske) 108.784 mph average
Weather: Sunny, mild, 71 degrees F