CHICAGO - Canadian James Hinchcliffe, who was nearly killed in a horrific practice crash at last year's Indianapolis 500, was the fastest qualifier in opening time trials for the 100th edition of the oval classic.
James Hinchcliffe of Canada led a field of 30 cars that secured spots in the May 29 race at the 2 1/2-mile (4km) Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a four-lap average of 230.946 mph (371.671 k/hr)
Hinchcliffe led a field of 30 cars that secured spots in the May 29 race at 2 1/2-mile (4km) Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a four-lap average of 230.946 mph (371.671 k/hr).
"That car was a rocket ship," Hinchcliffe said. "It validates all the effort these guys put in. It's a good feeling. There's a long way to go. But it's an impressive start."
Hinchcliffe was hospitalized on May 18 last year after a third-turn crash into the outer wall caused serious injuries, a steel rod from the car going through his right thigh and into his left leg, causing massive bleeding and an injury that ended his season.
"It's good to see Hinch back up there after all he has been through," said Ryan Hunter-Reay, who finished second on the first-day speed list.
Hinchcliffe, who has never sat on pole in an IndyCar race, made himself the man to beat Sunday when Saturday's nine fastest cars will run for the pole, with no times carrying over and another fast run needed to secure the race's inside front row spot.
American Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy 500 winner, was second at 230.805 with Australia's Will Power third on 230.736 and three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves of Brazil fourth at 230.500.
"It's just so difficult," Power said. "You are flat on throttle. It's tough. The car is sliding and moving. You've got to be on the edge to make it in. But it's not good on the heart."
Castroneves won the Indy 500 in 2001, 2002 and 2009 and has taken the pole four times -- 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2010. But his run Saturday was among his most difficult.
"I stopped breathing from the first lap," Castroneves said. "That was on the limit. That was over the limit. That was the best I could do. Proud of my car. Proud of what I did."
Others who will race for the pole and fill out the front three rows for the Indy 500 include Americans Townsend Bell and Josef Newgarden, Russia's Mikhail Aleshin, Colombia's Carlos Munoz and France's Simon Pagenaud.
Frenchman Pagenaud, who started third and finished 10th in last year's Indy 500, has won the past three IndyCar races of the season to seize the lead in the series point standings.
- Last-second speed drama -
The final dramatic minutes of time trials saw drivers chasing a top-nine spot to make a run for the pole.
Defending champion Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia and 2015 IndyCar season points champion Scott Dixon, the 2008 Indy 500 winner, failed in late bids to crack the top-nine.
Power bumped Oriol Servia from the fast nine and the Spaniard failed in a bid to break back into the elite lineup.
Marco Andretti bumped his way into the lineup at ninth, knocking out compatriot Hunter-Reay, only to have Hunter-Reay run next and dump Andretti out of the top nine.
That put US rookie Alexander Rossi on the bubble and Aleshin reached the track only one second before the deadline to start qualifying attempts.
But that was enough and Aleshin, who turns 29 on Sunday, made the most of his chance by going four laps at 230.209 mph to qualify seventh.
"It's amazing," Aleshin said. "It's an unbelievable feeling."