The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page C10

CIO SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2007 5Bd Sports THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR WWW.INDYSTAR.COM INDY 500 POLE DAY QUALIFIERS HELIO CASTRONEVES Born: May 10, 1975. Resides: Coral Gables, Fla. First Indy-car start: 2001. Career highlights: Won back-to-back Indy 500s (2001 and 2002), and took second in the IRL points in 2002. Won his 12th race this year in St.

Petersburg. Qualifying report Lap time mph 39.8371 225.920 39.8845 225.652 39.8538 225.825 39.8460 225.870 Totals 2:39.4214 225.817 Chassis: Dallara. TONY KANAAN Born: Dec. 31, 1974. Resides: Miami.

First Indy-car start: 2002. Career highlights: The eight-time winner and 2004 points champion has second- and third-place finishes at Indy. His most recent win came this year in Japan. Qualifying report Lap time mph 39.8438 225.882 39.8238 225.996 39.8594 225.794 39.9364 225.358 Totals 2:39.4634 225.757 Chassis: Dallara. DARI0 FRANCHITTI Born: May 19, 1973.

Resides: Nashville, Tenn. First Indy-car start: 2002. Career highlights: A four-time winner on the IRL circuit, Franchit-ti last won in 2005 at California, en route to a fourth-place finish in the points standings. He recently ran second in the Kansas race. Qualifying report Lap time mph 39.9861 225.078 39.9486 225.289 39.9435 225.318 39.9860 225.079 Totals 2:39.8642 225.191 Chassis: Dallara.

5 Colors: Whitered. Team: Penske. Colors: Greenwhiteorange. Team: Andretti Green Racing. Colors: Orangeblack.

Team: Andretti Green Racing. ntnA Qualifying report Qualifying report Lap time mph 39.9718 225.159 39.9426 225.323 39.9944 225.032 40.0048 224.973 Totals 2:39.9136 225.122 Chassis: Dallara. Qualifying report Lap time mph 40.0591 224.668 40.0361 224.797 40.0580 224.674 40.1025 224.425 Totals 2:40.2557 224.641 Chassis: Dallara. Lap time 39.9282 39.9263 39.8973 40.1709 Totals 2:39.9227 mph 225.405 225.415 225.579 224.043 225.109 -I CM SAM H0RNISH JR. Born: July 2, 1979.

Resides: Napoleon, Ohio. First Indy-car start: 2000. Career highlights: The defending Indy 500 and Indy Racing League points champion, Hornish has won the IRL points title three times and has 18 career wins on the DAN WHELD0N Born: June 22, 1978. Resides: St. Petersburg, Fla.

First Indy-car start: 2002. Career highlights: The 2007 points leader already has two wins this season, running his total to 13. Wheldon also won the 2005 Indy 500 and points title. SCOTT DIXON Born: July 22, 1980. Resides: Indianapolis.

First Indy-car start: 2003. Career highlights: The 2003 IRL champion has six wins and currently is second in points but never has finished better than sixth at Indy. Chassis: Dallara. Colors: Team: Colors: Whitered. Team: Penske.

Redwhite. Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Colors: Redwhite. Team: Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Qualifying report Qualifying report Lap time mph 40.3030 223.308 40.3059 223.292 (SI mph 224.175 224.152 224.044 223.934 224.076 Lap time 40.1472 40.1514 40.1706 40.1904 Totals 2:40.6596 Qualifying report Lap time mph 40.0407 224.771 40.1125 224.369 40.1139 224.361 40.1537 224.139 Totals 2:40.4208 224.410 Chassis: Dallara.

to 40.2881 223.391 RYAN BRISCOE Born: Sept. 24, 1981. Resides: Indianapolis. First Indy-car start: 2005. Career highlights: Took 10th at the 2005 Indy 500 after starting 24th.

Also finished third at Wat-kins Glen, N.Y., last year and recorded three top-10 finishes in 2005. MARCO ANDRETTI Born: March 13, 1987. Resides: Indianapolis. First Indy-car start: 2006. Career highlights: Andretti raised eyebrows with a second-place finish at the 2006 Indy 500, being passed on the last lap by Sam Hornish Jr.

Andretti also recorded a win at Sonoma, last year. DANICA PATRICK Born: March 25, 1982. Resides: Phoenix. First Indy-car start: 2005. Career highlights: Patrick burst onto the scene in 2005 with a fourth-place finish in the Indianapolis 500 but hasn't finished in the top three in an IRL race.

She has a career-best four fourth-place finishes. lotais 2:41.2186 223.299 Chassis: Dallara. Chassis: Dallara. Colors: Team: Colors: Team: Yellow. Luczo Dragon Racing.

Colors: Blackblue. Team: Andretti Green Racing. Redwhiteblue. Andretti Green Racing. Qualifying report Lap time mph 40.3833 222.864 40.3652 222.964 40.3755 222.907 40.3998 222.773 Totals 2:41.5238 222.877 Chassis: Dallara.

Qualifying report Lap time mph 40.4369 222.569 40.4448 222.526 40.3686 222.946 40.3377 223.116 Totals 2:41.5880 222.789 Chassis: Dallara. MICHAEL ANDRETTI Born: Oct. 5, 1962. Resides: Nazareth, Pa. First Indy-car start: 1984.

Career highlights: Considered by some as the best driver never to win at Indy, Andretti took second in 1991 and a surprising third last year, leading until being passed by son Marco on lap 197. T0MAS SCHECKTER Born: Sept. 21, 1980. Resides: Cape Town, South Africa Indianapolis. First Indy-car start: 2002.

Career highlights: A two-time win-ner on the IRL circuit, Scheckter first found victory lane in 2002 at Michigan, and most recently won at Texas in 2005. Finished a career-best seventh in points in 2003. Colors: Silverblackred. Colors: Silverwhitered. Team: Vision Racing.

Team Andretti Green Racing. Kravitz TODAY'S QUALIFYING ORDER 1) 40 PJ Jones 2) 18 Jimmy Kite 3) 18T Jimmy Kite 4) 22T A.J. Foyt IV 5) 5 Sarah Fisher 6) 8 Scott Sharp 7) 55 Kosuke Matsuura 8) 99 Buddy Lazier 9) 77T Stephan Gre-goire 10) 17 Jeff Simmons 11) 17T Jeff Simmons 12) 91 TBD 13) 25 Marty Roth 14) 14 Darren Manning 15) 41 TBD 16) 50T Al Unser Jr. 17) 50 Al Unser Jr. 18) 41T TBD 19) 99T Buddy Lazier 20) 98 TBD 21) 23 Milka Duno 22) 21T Jaques Lazier 23) 43 TBD 24) 55T Kosuke Matsuura 25) 19 Jon Herb 26) 21 Jaques Lazier 27) 02 Davey Hamilton 28) 5T Sarah Fisher 29) 15T Buddy Rice 30) 23T Milka Duno 31) 14T Darren Manning 32) 4 Vitor Meira 33) 20 Ed Carpenter 34) 16 TBD 35) 4T Vitor Meira 36) 77 Stephan Gre-goire 37) 02T Davey Hamilton 38) 15 Buddy Rice 39) 16T TBD 40) 19T Jon Herb 41) 8T Scott Sharp 42) 20T Ed Carpenter 43) 22 A.J.

Foyt IV 44) 31 Phil Giebler ond to blink an eye. So we're talking almost 10 times faster than the blink of an eye. Over four laps. Remarkable. Whenever there's change, the traditionalists and keepers of the flame will cry foul and term it blasphemy.

Remember how baseball purists howled when their sport instituted the wild card? It would be the ruination of the grand, old game. Except it worked, kept fans interested in the races deep into the fall. There are a lot of important, cherished traditions connected to IMS and the Indianapolis 500, but as times change, sometimes it's necessary to look at things in a new way. The new format will take some time to fully comprehend, and based on the size of the crowd, the luster of pole day still hasn't been restored, nor will it be restored any time soon. But this was a start.

A great start. With a remarkable and eminently memorable finish. Bob Kravitz is a columnist for The Indianapolis Star. Call him at (317) 444-6643 or e-mail bob.kravitzindystar.com. kept everyone on the edge of their seats all day.

The guys going for the pole, also those in the bumping process. I really think it was a success. "But what a horrible, stressful day." At 5:52 p.m., Castroneves took a chance, similar to the risk that failed when he attempted to seize the pole in 2005. This time, his reward was Team Penske's 14th Indy pole and Castroneves' second here. There's just something about Penske and Indianapolis.

There's just something about Castroneves and Indianapolis. New format, old result. Castroneves wasn't safe, though. Sitting there next in line, ready to challenge, was Kanaan. So at 5:57 p.m., he was out, and suddenly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway was alive the way it was last year, when Sam Hornish Jr.

was catching and passing Marco Andretti down the final straightaway. You want to talk about close? Castroneves' time was six one-hundredths of a second better than Kanaan. It takes most human beings three- to four-tenths of a sec pole. And in the No. 11 hole, Michael Andretti staved off one competitor after another, grasping desperately to the day's final spot.

It took more than five hours for things to get interesting, but the point is, it did get interesting, and it figures to stay interesting through the next two weekends of qualifying. This was what the Indy 500 wanted when it changed the qualifying format three years ago. This was what the Indy 500 needed when it tweaked the format. And the event, which had lost its luster in recent times, got the results it long hoped for. There was one guy who didn't have a whole lot of nice things to say about the new format, but, then, asking Franchitti would be like asking Mrs.

Lincoln how she enjoyed the live theater. "I hated it," Franchitti said. "I'm glad the fans enjoyed it. They were getting so into it. When one guy would come close, they would all cheer.

When Helio would be out there, they would cheer. They had a great time, I think. It Some traditions are sacred, but some need tweaking. From CI happened here at the Speedway on Saturday evening? You think IRL president and chief operating officer Brian Barnhart is exulting in the way his new format produced a final eight minutes that were as compelling as anything we've seen during the NBA playoffs? "I think the format was terrific and it got some spirit back into what we used to see here in qualifying over the many years," said Roger Penske, whose opinion carries significant weight. "There is no question, these guys (drivers) couldn't hear the cheers from the fans, but I'll tell you, they were standing up in their seats.

That's what we want them to do in the Indy Racing League." As the final hour unfolded, there was drama at the top and at the bottom of the first-day grid. Dario Franchitti held on to the top spot, holding off several competitors until Castro-neves' last-ditch run at the Castroneves Revised format gets 1st try, brings memorable day. From CI said. "Really unbelievable." The flurry in the official debut of the 500's recently adopted qualifying format produced a very memorable session, top to bottom. With Sam Hornish Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon joining the Brazilians in the withdraw line, Michael Andretti clutched the day's last available position No.

11 in what will be a 33-car field. In addition to owning Franchitti's car, Andretti had to sweat out four final-hour attempts for his own spot before realizing he wouldn't have to come back for today's second-day qualifying session, for positions 12 through 22. "My heart (can't) take a whole lot of days like today," he said. Franchitti, who posted a pole-grabbing average of 225.191 mph just prior to 1 p.m., endured the assault on his position standing on pit road with his wife, actress Ashley Judd. After Castroneves' first qualifying attempt just missed Franchitti at 4:12 p.m., Hornish would have grabbed the top spot had he not brushed the second-turn wall on his second lap.

Knowing his car was better than its posted 225.145 mph average, Hornish withdrew the time to try again. It was a virtual repeat, only he bobbled slightly between the third and fourth turns on the final lap, dropping his average to 225.109. "You almost saw three consecutive runs like that," Hornish said. "We almost went back out again." Dixon, who had been the fastest driver in two practice days this week, was the next to make a second pole bid. His Ganassi Racing team withdrew the car that had averaged 224.351 mph, only to muster 225.122 still short of Franchitti.

Wheldon took his second turn at the pole shortly thereafter. He withdrew a 223.686 mph average to go 224.641 again, just short. Sprinkled between were failed attempts at Andretti's bubble speed by Scott Sharp, Jeff Simmons, Ed Carpenter and Darren Manning. Each will return today for three more qualifying attempts. Castroneves drove off pit road on his final run at 5:52 p.m., giving up a 224.988-mph effort that at the time was good for the fourth starting position.

It proved smart as he ran 225.817. Castroneves said the team left the decision to re-qualify to him. "I was like, 'Damn it, now I've got to he said. Kanaan jumped from sixth (at 224.618 mph) to second with his final run (225.757). "I thought I had it," he said.

"I think my warm-up lap was a little too quick." There was a lot to chew on in the aftermath. Andretti Green Racing, which trailed Chip Ganassi's team throughout the week's practice, not only placed two drivers on the front row, it secured all five of its drivers in the top 11. Danica Patrick earned the eighth spot and Marco Andretti the ninth. Ganassi's team couldn't back up its stellar week of practice. Dixon settled for the fourth starting position with Wheldon sixth.

Castroneves not only captured his second pole since 2003, he gave Roger Penske's team its record 14th in the event. Penske couldn't remember a better qualifying session in recent years. "I think we were back home in Indiana with that qualifying session," he said. The first hour-plus of qualifying was intriguing on its own. Fifteen drivers accepted times, with Vi-tor Meira waving off his attempt.

Five drivers held the pole, including Buddy Rice, who became the first driver in Speedway history to go from the pole to being bumped in the same day. In fact, his fall from glory unfolded in exactly one hour. Speedway CEO Tony George experienced all sides of the fun. One of his Vision Racing drivers earned a spot in the field Tomas Scheckter is 10th while Ed Carpenter and A.J. Foyt IV were bumped.

"I was never quite sure (how it would work); now we know," George said. "It was pretty exciting stuff for the viewers; not too exciting for those holding on by the skin of their teeth." Call Star reporter Curt Cavin at (317) 444-6409. Seeing is Believing In dim a fwar Mnnazotn Lynx Recapping pole day at IMS: How the action unfolded Buddy Rice kicks off qualifying, posting a four-lap average speed of 221.766 mph. Scott Dixon overtakes Rice for the pole position at 224.351. Ryan Briscoe makes a surprise appearance at the pole, running 224.410.

Scott Sharp comes in with the day's third-fastest speed (222.498). Dan Wheldon runs a surprisingly slow 223.686, third at the time. Ed Carpenter posts a speed of 222.685, good enough for fourth at the time. A.J. Foyt IV struggles to a run of 221.467.

Kosuke IVIatsuura runs 221.866, narrowly edging Rice and Foyt. Danica Patrick jumps ahead of Wheldon and into third, posting a speed of 224.076. Tony Kanaan takes the pole with a speed of 224.618. Dario Franchitti immediately grabs the pole with a speed of 225.191. Tomas Scheckter comes in at 222.877, bumping Foyt.

Rice becomes the second driver bumped after Michael Andretti posts a speed of 222.789. Jeff Simmons runs 222.687, bumping IVIatsuura. Marco Andretti completes the first wave of qualifying, posting a speed of 223.299 and bumping Sharp. After about three hours of inaction, Helio Castroneves jumps to second with 224.988, also bumping Carpenter. Sam Hornish first lap puts him in position to grab the pole, but a bad second lap pushes him to second with a speed of 225.145.

This also bumps Simmons. Hornish again makes a run at the pole, but a bad last lap reduces his qualifying speed to 225.109. Dixon makes his second attempt, jumping from sixth to second at 225.122. Sharp narrowly misses re-entering the top 11, recording a speed of 222.743. Ivlichael Andretti (222.789) barely stays in.

Simmons also narrowly misses the top 11 (222.437). Wheldon jumps to fifth with a speed of 224.641. Carpenter becomes the third to make a run at Michael Andretti but also comes up short (222.687) Darren Manning makes his first run, narrowly missing the top 11 with a speed of 222.654. Castroneves takes the pole position with a speed of 225.817. Kanaan makes one last run at the pole but narrowly misses out with a speed of 225.757.

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