Qualifying Report, Verizon IndyCar Series, Honda Indy 200

HONDA INDY 200, QUALIFYING REPORT

Qualifying for tomorrow’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has come to a close and saw two of the Andretti Verizon IndyCar Series drivers transfer out of Q1 and into the top 12. Americans Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti both advanced to Q2 and will line up tomorrow seventh and 12th, respectively. Justin Wilson just missed the time needed for Q2 advancement and will take the grid in 14th for tomorrow’s 90-lap event. While showing speeds strong enough to contend for the top 12, Carlos Munoz will take the grid in 23rd due to a qualifying penalty resulting in the loss of his two fastest laps.

RYAN HUNTER-REAY
NO. 28 DHL HONDA
“I thought we had a shot (at transferring into the Firestone Fast Six), especially with the lap we put together at the end – that was everything the car had. I couldn’t believe we pulled that much time out of (the car). We missed the Fast Six by a few thousandths of a second which is really tight, we knew it was going to be close… But I’m having a blast anytime I’m at this track. We put a good car together every time we come here so we’ll keep our heads down and hopefully have a great day tomorrow. We’re coming off a win at Iowa so hopefully we can end this season on a high for DHL, Honda and AutoNation.”

MARCO ANDRETTI
NO. 27 MERCHANT FIRST / SNAPPLE HONDA
“We’re starting mid pack which is a disappointment for sure… We didn’t come here to qualify 12th so we’re bummed about that. It’s the worse we’ve been all weekend too, which compounds the pain right now. It’s a long race and attrition is going to play a part. We just have to stay out of trouble and find some clear track, and really, really turn up so we can find some track position.”

JUSTIN WILSON
NO. 25 ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT HONDA
“It’s been an interesting day. We definitely found some performance from yesterday and picked things up. In qualifying I was really happy with the car. We just missed it by a couple thousandths of a second advancing through. The last couple of corners the car in front threw a load of dirt across the racetrack so we lost a tenth (of a second) there. But it’s just how it goes sometimes – it goes in your favor and sometimes it goes against you. I’m pleased with the car. I think we have a good race car for tomorrow so we’ll see what happens.”

CARLOS MUNOZ
NO. 26 ANDRETTI TV / CINSAY HONDA
“A really frustrating day, really hard day for us… we don’t feel comfortable. We’re starting in the back tomorrow (P23), and this track is really hard to pass on, but luckily this is INDYCAR and really anything can happen. We have to work a lot overnight, but for sure one of the toughest days I’ve ever had in my Verizon IndyCar Series career but we have to learn from this.”