GO PRO GRAND PRIX AT SONOMA RACEWAY, QUALIFYING REPORT

 

The Verizon IndyCar Series season finale weekend is underway at Sonoma Raceway with today’s track activity seeing Ryan Hunter-Reay topping the time charts in the morning practice session, with teammate Carlos Muñoz close behind. Hunter-Reay, fresh off his 16th career victory in Pocono last weekend, went on to qualify in the third position, extending his reign as the most successful American-born driver currently in IndyCar competition. Fellow American Marco Andretti will come next for the team on the grid, with a starting position of eighth. Carlos Muñoz will line up eighth with Oriol Servia, piloting the No. 25 in tribute to the late Justin Wilson, will roll off 19th.

 

RYAN HUNTER-REAY 
NO. 28 DHL HONDA

 

“It was a good day after breaking the track record in practice one this morning. I had a really good car this morning. The heat made things a little bit more difficult for qualifying but as they say it’s the same for everyone. We had P1 locked up for a good part of the (Firestone) Fast Six just lost out a little bit on tires choice at the end. In hindsight I went with the wrong set of tires. We went with a used set didn’t quite get us through. Starting P3 tomorrow we can get hopefully get it done. Good to have the DHL Honda starting up front.”

MARCO ANDRETTI
NO. 27 SNAPPLE HONDA

“I’m a little bit bummed to be starting in eighth. I was hoping to make the (Firestone) Fast Six. We came up to Turn 6 and it was covered in dirt so we lost of our time there. Definitely unlucky, but can be done from (eighth).”

CARLOS MUÑOZ
NO. 26 ANDRETTI TV / CINSAY HONDA

“I’m a little bit disappointed with the result of qualifying. I think we were looking better in practice. We’re starting 12th… a little disappointed but tomorrow is a long race — and it’s IndyCar, anything can happen.”

ORIOL SERVIA
NO. 25 ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT HONDA

“It’s tough. Everything is wrong (about this weekend) — Justin (Wilson) should be here. Apart from that, I haven’t been on a road course in a year and a half, and I’m not going to say how long it’s been since I’ve been in a gym. Yesterday was a wake up call. The car was really good, I just feel like I’m one session behind. Now on blacks I was only a couple tenths off Marco, so it looked good. But that was the first time I’ve put reds on so I didn’t know how much there was there to gain. The car felt the best balance it’s felt all day yesterday and today so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”