After his McLaren-Honda-Andretti team completed a full engine change prior to qualifying, Alonso went out and impressed by putting up a stellar four-lap average of 231.300 mph.
The run held up until his Andretti teammate Rossi bettered the mark.
“I thought I had a little more left in the car, honestly,” Alonso admitted. “I think that today the car was better than it was yesterday; it had better balance and I felt more confident. We had an overboost problem coming out of the last corner, so it was like the engine was hitting the brakes coming out of the corner … and I think I lost a little bit of speed coming onto the main straight.”
“Either way, this was a good day for us,” he added. “This is the biggest race in the world. I felt that the first time I came here (to test), but then the circuit was empty and now that qualifying has arrived, the speeds have picked up and all the fans have come to this place … it’s even more amazing and I’m looking forward to next Sunday.”
J.R. Hildebrand, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti and Will Power were the remaining cars that competed in the Fast Nine Shootout, with Power ending up as the only Team Penske car in the top half of the field.
Among the group one qualifiers, Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay scorched the 2.5-mile oval and blew away his competition, posting the fastest four-lap run among the remaining 24 cars at an average speed of 231.442 mph.
Hunter-Reay was the only driver to post four laps of 231 mph or more in the opening group, and his No. 28 DHL Dallara-Honda will start 10th next Sunday after a “white-knuckle” run.
“That was crazy,” said Hunter-Reay, whose four-lap average was fourth-best on the afternoon. “It was white-knuckle the whole time. I don’t even think I took a breath, it felt like, the entire four laps.”
“It’s just a shame we’re not in the Fast Nine, because certainly, our speed should be there. We had an early draw the other day … but it doesn’t matter. It’s the Indy 500. Next Sunday’s the only thing that counts. I have to thank my entire Andretti Autosport crew for giving me a great car the last week and a half. Hopefully we can transfer that and execute next Sunday; that’s the important thing.”
Rookie Ed Jones, who led the ‘best of the rest’ during the first day of qualifications on Saturday, gave up one position but will still start 11th for Dale Coyne Racing after a four-lap average of 230.578 mph.
Defending 500 pole winner James Hinchcliffe landed 17th on the grid in his No. 5 Arrow Electronics Dallara-Honda, clocking in a four-lap average of 229.860 mph.
“My guys did a lot of soul-searching last night, trying to find some of the speed we were missing,” Hinchcliffe said after climbing from his car. “We were a little short yesterday to get into the Fast Nine, but my guys did a great job of finding some of that extra pace today and making up some of the difference we needed. This is a big credit to them for getting more speed out of it.”
“We had a really consistent run; that’s always been our strength here in the couple years I’ve been with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. I’m happy with it.”
None of the four Team Penske Chevrolets outside the Fast Nine were able to crack the 230 mph barrier on Sunday, with two-time 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya emerging as the best of the group in 19th (229.565 mph).
Helio Castroneves will start just behind Montoya in 19th, as the Brazilian seeks his record-tying fourth 500 win.
Penske young gun Josef Newgarden and defending series champion Simon Pagenaud qualified 22nd and 23rd, respectively.
Sebastian Saavedra, Zach Veach and James Davison – who will replace the injured Sebastien Bourdais and did not make a run on Sunday – make up the 11th and final row on the grid.
The 101st Indianapolis 500 presented by Penngrade Motor Oil takes the green flag at noon Eastern on May 28, live on ABC and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.
Full qualifying results can be viewed on the next page…
