Ed Carpenter has topped the first day of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, after a delayed start to proceedings due to torrential rain throughout the day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Eventually qualifying was able to get underway after roughly a five hour delay, with each driver being allowed one chance to qualify.
As ever the aim of first qualifying was to end the session within the top nine, with Sunday’s second qualifying session being split into two segments.
The top nine will be eligible to battle for pole in the ‘Fast 9’, whereas the rest of the field will be forced to settle for the rest of the positions from P10 to P33.
Sebastien Bourdais was the only driver to make contact with the barrier during his qualifying attempt, with the Frenchman slamming violently into the wall and even going momentarily upside down.
After the incident Bourdais was seen moving in the cockpit, before being extracted from his car by the ever-efficient Holmatro safety team and transferred via ambulance to the IU Methodist Hospital.
Once the session was resumed former Formula 1 racer Takuma Sato momentarily assumed the top spot, eventually being forced to settle for P2 after Carpenter’s run.
Four-time champion Scott Dixon was P3 for Chip Ganassi Racing, following a strong effort during the early stages of the session.
Dixon immediately went fastest after his qualifying attempt, holding the top spot until Sato usurped him later in the session.
J.R. Hildebrand ended a perfect day for Ed Carpenter Racing, comfortably qualifying for the ‘Fast 9’ in P4.
Reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi displayed sheer composure, completing the first lap after Bourdais’ horrifying incident.
Rossi eventually ended the session P5, ahead of Penske’s Will Power.
The 2014 champion will be Penske’s only driver in the ‘Fast 9’ during Sunday qualifying, such was the team’s lack of competitiveness after the majority of their drivers drew early runs in the random ballot on Friday.
Fernando Alonso was by far the driver of the day for many, as the double F1 champion and IndyCar rookie was impressively quick.
The McLaren-Honda-Andretti racer ended Saturday qualifying P7, making it into the all-important ‘Fast 9’ on his first attempt.
Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti rounded out the top nine, with Kanaan’s effort in particular standing out after completing his qualifying attempt early in the session.
Ed Jones enjoyed a thoroughly impressive performance for Dale Coyne Racing, only just missing out on a ‘Fast 9’ slot in P10.
Despite this the rookie will undoubtedly remain content, after ending the session ahead of big names such as three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and reigning champion Simon Pagenaud.
Meanwhile rookie Zach Veach was the only driver not to take to the track during Saturday qualifying, with the A.J. Foyt Racing outfit forced to complete their only qualifying run on Sunday after Veach suffered an incident in practice the previous day.
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