Random Sunday Qualifying Predictions

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer

INDIANAPOLIS– With Pole Day qualifying beginning soon for the Indianapolis 500, it’s time for some random qualifying predictions.

Final Row: Conor Daly, James Davison, Zachary Claman De Melo.

This is based on Carlin’s earlier no-tow speeds during the week being higher on the time sheet and that Davison and Daly will not put their equipment at too much risk to make the show. Rahal found .3 mph yesterday and if that goes across all three cars, they might have pulled themselves off the back row.

Row outside the Fast Nine: Tony Kanaan, Alexander Rossi, Ryan Hunter-Reay

Kanaan has been fast for a while this month and Rossi and Hunter-Reay were close to the Fast Nine, Rossi more-so than Hunter-Reay. However, Hunter-Reay has been on the front row before so he knows how to qualify well.

Fastest rookie: Matheus Leist. Foyt’s had fast cars all month long while the rest of the rookies haven’t had the best pace. Chevrolet has several fast drivers in the sharper end of the grid.

Biggest surprise: I think we’ll see Sage Karam in the top half of the field.

Front row: In no particular order, Helio Castroneves, Sebastien Bourdais, Ed Carpenter. Castroneves and Carpenter were very close on the time sheet and Bourdais might have another ace up his sleeve from Craig Hampson.