Bourdais, Dixon Lead Honda Qualifiers for 102nd Indianapolis 500
• Sebastien Bourdais completes return from injury by qualifying fifth
• Scott Dixon to start ninth in search of his second “500” win
• Indy 500 field to feature 17 Honda drivers from five teams
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (May 20, 2018) – Sebastien Bourdais led the Honda-powered field in final qualifying today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and will start next Sunday’s Indy 500 from the middle of the second row, fifth.
For Bourdais, the run capped an impressive return from multiple fractures and other injuries sustained in a qualifying crash here last year. The Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan driver also won the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series opener in St. Petersburg, Florida, and currently is ranked third in the Drivers’ Championship point standings.
Former “500” winner and series champion Scott Dixon also advanced to the Fast Nine final shootout, which set the first three rows of the 33-car starting field, but was unable to repeat his pole-winning effort from 2017 and will start on the outside of the third row, ninth.
In preliminary qualifying action today, Marco Andretti recorded a four-lap average speed of 227.288 mph to start on the outside of the fourth row, 12th. Series rookie Zachary Claman De Melo posted an impressive average speed of 226.999 mph and will start 13th, with veteran and 2014 Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter Reay starting alongside in 14th.
Following the conclusion of today’s final qualifying rounds, race preparations begin in earnest on Monday with a three hour, 30-minute practice session, followed by final “Carb Day” practice on Friday. The green flag for the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 waves just after noon EDT Sunday, with live television coverage starting at 11 a.m. EDT.
Quotes:
Sebastien Bourdais (Dale Coyne Racing Honda) Will start in the middle of the second row, fifth: “It was just a great weekend for the SealMaster Honda. I’m starting fifth in the middle of Row Two. I am really proud of everything the guys have done. I think it is speaks volumes about their work, their passion and their dedication to this program. Dale [Coyne], Jimmy [Vasser] and Sulli [James Sullivan, team owners] and everybody from top to bottom. I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity, for the support. It has probably been the hardest weekend and the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. Overall, I am happy with the job we did and where we are starting.”
Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Will start on the outside of the third row, ninth: “It’s always a tricky situation whether or not you go out and practice in the morning. The conditions are so different, really, so we elected not to, just like last year. The PNC Bank car was good. We tried a couple things today we hoped would pick up the speed. It didn’t pan out, but we were in the Fast Nine for the second straight year and we’re proud of that. We’ll just have to now see how the race plays out.”
Art St. Cyr (President, Honda Performance Development) on Indianapolis 500 qualifying: “For the last two years, Honda had a definite advantage in both qualifying and the race. Obviously, we have some work to do in preparation for next week’s race, but I’m confident in our teams, our drivers and all of our associates at HPD to work together to win our 13th Indianapolis 500.”