IndyCar: Sunday Morning Report from Armed Forces Qualifying

Good morning from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the final day of Qualifying for the 108th running of the Indy 500 presented by Gainbridge.

Today, the Top 12 qualifiers from yesterday will have the nail-biting opportunity to earn the pole for next Sunday’s race.  It won’t be a walk in the park, as there will be two intense sessions before we get to the pole.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers in the top 12 will have one hour to practice early this afternoon.  Then, at 3:05 pm, they will requalify in reserve order.

Four drivers,  Marcus Ericsson, Graham Rahal, Katherine Legge and Nolan Siegel, who did not qualify in the top 30 positions yesterday, are now fueled with determination.  They will have one hour to practice before they make their heart-pounding attempts to fill the final three spots for the race.

One of those four drivers will not make the race this year.

Marcus Ericsson, the 2022 Indy 500 winner and second place for 2023, had multiple attempts to get into the field after the Swede spun and made contact in turn 4 and the inside pit wall on Friday afternoon.   The Andretti Global driver could not find the speed yesterday and blamed himself.

Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan No 15 United Rentals Honda, found himself not in the race last May after being bumped by a teammate for the last spot on the grid.  He is hoping to make the last row this year/

Nolan Siegel, the 19-year-old rookie for Dale Coyne Racing, and Katherine Legge both drive for Dale Coyne Racing.

Today’s schedule (in Eastern Time)  is as follows:

Noon – 1 pm               Top 12 Practice

1 – 2 pm                         Last Chance Practice

3:05 – 4:05 pm          Top 12 Qualifying

4:15 – 5:15 pm           Last Chance Qualifying

5:25 – 5:55 pm           Firestone Fast Six Qualifying

Lucille Dust reporting from Indianapolis