Matos grabs Kentucky 100 pole
Ana Beatriz will start second, the same position she won from at Nashville when she became the first female driver to win in Firestone Indy Lights.
1. (27) Raphael Matos, 190.604
2. (20) Ana Beatriz, 190.211
3. (26) Arie Luyendyk Jr., 189.701
4. (15) Dillon Battistini, 189.630
5. (11) James Davison, 189.591
6. (16) Brent Sherman, 189.273
7. (34) Travis Gregg, 189.093
8. (23) Logan Gomez, 189.078
9. (5) Daniel Herrington, 188.929
10. (7) Richard Antinucci, 188.542
11. (22) Jonathan Klein, 188.516
12. (2) Jeff Simmons, 188.424
13. (25) J.R. Hildebrand, 188.337
14. (43) Mike Potekhen, 188.309
15. (3) Pablo Donoso, 187.993
16. (4) Sean Guthrie, 187.836
17. (17) Bobby Wilson, 187.503
18. (6) CR Crews, 187.464
19. (8) PJ Abbott, 187.096
20. (54) Micky Gilbert, 186.444
21. (55) Franck Perera, 185.775
22. (44) Robbie Pecorari, 185.699
23. (18) Cyndie Allemann, 185.605
24. (24) Christina Orr, 185.417
Quotes
RAPHAEL MATOS (No. 27 Automatic Fire Sprinklers, qualified first): “It's very important to start up front at this track because it's so difficult to pass. We tested here a couple weeks ago, and we had great speed. It feels so good to put everything together and get the pole. I was a little bit concerned because we went out so early, but the entire AFS/Andretti Green team worked so hard all day. It feels so good to bring the boys the pole." (About winning a point for earning the pole): "Every point is important in this championship. It could be decided by 10 points, or just one point, so you have to get every point you can. It's good to get the pole. Tomorrow, I just want a clean race so I can get as many points as I can."
ANA BEATRIZ (No. 20 Healthy Choice/Sam Schmidt Motorsports, second): “Today was great. We just keep improving the car. The Healthy Choice and Sam Schmidt crew – we work great together, and we are so confident in ovals and still improving. It is really tight here in Kentucky, and we will have to see what is going to happen tomorrow. We have put ourselves in a position that I think we can get a second win, but we will have to improve the car before the race because the Andretti Green car is really fast. I have to thank my Sam Schmidt team for teaching me all they know about ovals. They are very experienced on ovals. I am pleased to be starting on the front row, because it is very hard to pass here; I just need to find a way to get around Raphael (Matos)."
DILLON BATTISTINI (No. 15 National Guard Delphi, fourth): “Starting in the second row isn’t a bad place to be starting. It is a little disappointing though. We looked good on the first lap, but just slowed a little on the second. I will definitely be going for the win this race. We haven’t finished the last few races, but that won’t stop me from going for the win. We have been strong on ovals all year, so I expect us to be extremely strong for tomorrow and contend for the win. We are going to try to move forward. Hopefully we will have a setup that allows us to do that."
JAMES DAVISON (No. 11 Lifelock/Sam Schmidt Motorsports, fifth): “It felt good. We were lacking about a tenth (of a second) a lap. The car felt good. The speed just wasn’t there. I said going into qualifying that I’d be satisfied with a top-five, happy with a top-three and over the moon with the pole. At least I’m satisfied. I don’t know what more I could have done. You can’t win all of them."