Honda Racing–Front-Row Start for Hawksworth at Grand Prix of Indianapolis

Hunter-Reay sets top time, but penalized for crash
 Honda drivers to start second, third and fourth

A pair of rain showers during Verizon IndyCar Series qualifying Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, for Saturday’s inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis, resulted in mixed fortunes for several Honda drivers.  They included Ryan Hunter-Reay, who lost his best times as a penalty for crashing in the closing minutes of final-round qualifying, dropping him from the pole to third in the 25-car starting field.

Rookie Jack Hawksworth will start on the outside of the front row, a career-best second, for Bryan Herta Autosport, with Simon Pagenaud qualifying fourth for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports after leading the final practice session on Friday morning.

The fourth round of the 2014 season, and first IndyCars on the 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, starts at 3 p.m. EDT Saturday, with live television coverage on ABC.

Jack Hawksworth(#98 Bryan Herta Autosport Honda) 2nd-quickest in qualifying: “We started the season out quite strong [qualifying 8th at St. Petersburg and 5th at Long Beach], but haven’t had the results to show for it.  There have been glimmers of potential, but we’re not quite there yet.  Hopefully, tomorrow is the day when we do it [win].”