INDIANAPOLIS — All 33 cars have completed their initial qualification attempts for the 104th Indianapolis 500 with each making it through the four-lap qualifying runs safely on Saturday.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway is currently open for practice, and more runs are expected later today as teams currently outside of the Fast Nine that will determine the first three rows on Sunday can try to bump their way into that group.
Marco Andretti is the fastest qualifier after running a four-lap average of 231.351 mph in the No. 98 US Concrete Honda for Andretti Autosport. Andretti did his four-lap attempt in the heat of the day and leads an impressive sweep by Andretti Autosport.
The team owned by former CART champion and IndyCar star Michael Andretti has drivers in the first four positions. Andretti is currently the fastest followed by 2014 Indy 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay’s No. 28 DHL Honda with a four-lap average of 231.330 mph. Alexander Rossi, the 2016 Indy 500 winner, is third with a four-lap average of 231.268 mph in the No. 27 NAPA Honda.
Another Andretti driver, James Hinchcliffe, is fourth at 231.195 mph over four laps. Honda currently has the first four positions. Chevrolet driver, 19-year-old rookie Rinus VeeKay, is fifth at 231.114 mph in the No. 21 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing.
Scott Dixon, the five-time NTT IndyCar Series champion and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner, sixth at 231.094 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda followed by rookie driver Alex Palou of Spain at 231.034 mph in the No. 55 Honda for Dale Coyne Racing with Team GOH.
Graham Rahal’s United Rentals No. 15 Honda is eighth at 230.822 mph for four laps with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing teammate and 101st Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato rounding out the nine fastest drivers so far at Indianapolis. Sato’s four-lap average was 230.792 mph.
Another Andretti Autosport driver, Colton Herta, is 10th at 230.560 mph and will likely make another attempt to get into the Fast Nine.
Spencer Pigot’s Honda is next followed by Marcus Ericsson’s Honda and defending NTT IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden’s Chevrolet. Those are among the drivers that could make an attempt later on Saturday.
Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud is currently 25th, two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso is 26th and three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves is currently 28th.
Ben Hanley is 33rd in the 33-car starting lineup.
Positions 10-33 will be locked into the field based on today’s speed. The Fast Nine will return on Sunday to determine the order of the first three rows and the prestigious Indianapolis 500 pole.
Qualifications will continue until 4:50 p.m. ET.