By Zorba Rose – Bloomingtonian Motorsports Correspondent
This award goes to driver R.C. Enerson driving the No. 50 car for Abel Motorsports qualifying for the race in 29th position. The team at Abel Motorsports over-produced, and they made it into the race with minimal practice and experience.
“It’s crazy that he isn’t a full-time IndyCar driver,” said John Brunner, Abel Motorsport team manager. ”He just strapped himself in there and there wasn’t any rust. Anything we asked him to do, he just does it.”
Top Teams
Arrow McLaren has improved and they are becoming a team to watch at Indy. All four drivers made the Top 12 shootout, and they are looking good for race day.
3rd Felix Rosenqvist – No. 6, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
5th – Pato O’Ward – No. 5, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
7th – Alexander Rossi – No. 7, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
9th – Tony Kanaan – No. 66, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet
Chip Ganassi Racing maintains its spot as one of the greatest racing teams ever run at Indianapolis. All four of their drivers were in the top 12 shootout and Alex Palou won Pole Position.
Pole Position – Alex Palou – No. 10, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
6th – Scott Dixon – No. 9, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
8th – Takuma Sato – No. 11, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
10th – Marcus Ericsson – No. 8, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda
Pleasant surprise
A.J.! A.J.! A.J! A.J. Foyt Enterprises has had an outstanding May, with two cars in the fast 12.
4th – Santino Ferrucci – No. 14, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet
11th – Benjamin Pedersen – No. 55, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet
Rinus VeeKay and Ed Carpenter Racing just avoided catastrophe during Sunday’s Fast 12 and Fast 6, when a major problem with their power unit forced the engineers into overtime. But they put it all back together and qualified second.
2nd – Rinus VeeKay – No. 21, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet
Unpleasant Surprise
The turn 1 accident Monday with Katherine Legge and Stefan Wilson. Wilson hurt his back and will not drive the No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Crusick Motorsports, Chevrolet. Heal quick Stefan.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Graham Rahal will be driving the number 24 car for Dryer & Reinbold Racing/Cusich Motorsports, Chevrolet, in the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
The Rookies
Benjamin Pederson led the rookies last week, but all four of them qualified for the Race.
11th – Benjamin Pedersen – No. 55, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet
27th – Agustin Canapino – No. 78, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet
29th – R.C. Enerson – No. 50, Abel Motorsports, Chevrolet
32nd – Sting Ray Robb – No 51, Dale Coyne Racing, Honda