FORMULA DREAM/PANASONIC DRIVER MUTOH PROGRESSED TO THE POLE SHOOTOUT AND MATCHED HIS BEST INDY 500 START OF NINTH PLACE
OVERALL: Mutoh set the seventh fastest 4-lap average of 225.423 mph during Segment 1 ofqualifying from 11 -- 4:00 p.m. ET to progress to the Pole Shootout of the top nine drivers from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. ET. His first of three attempts in Segment 2 was his best and netted a four-lap average of 223.487 mph. He waved off his second attempt on the second of four laps and reported that the car had too much understeer. On the third and final attempt he reported that the car was too loose on the third of four laps but completed the run although his final lap time was well off the pace.
Hideki Mutoh, No. 06 Formula Dream/Panasonic Dallara/Honda/Firestone:
"We had four consistent laps and a good lap time for our first run of
the day and were P7 and able to make it into the Pole Shootout of the
top-nine cars. The car was so good in the morning so I said to Martin
(Pare; engineer) 'Let's trim more and go for it. Go big or go
home you know?' And then I think we went too far; we went over the
limit and I couldn't run four laps consistently. I was okay for a
couple of laps but after that we were sliding too much and I just
couldn't hold it. I'm disappointed. The team did a great job
today and I want to thank everyone at Newman/Haas Racing. I would rather
start ninth then have gained a spot and start eighth in the middle of the
row; that's not good. We have a good race car and now we will work
to have a good, strong race from here."
-source: nhr
