Starting grid
By JIM TOMLIN
Published April 2, 2006
27 DARIO FRANCHITTI
TEAM: Andretti Green Racing
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:02.2753/104.054 mph
COMMENT: The Scotsman, who topped nearly every practice, set an IndyCar track record in the 10-minute final session.
9 SCOTT DIXONTEAM: Chip Ganassi Racing
CHASSIS: Panoz
TIME/SPEED: 1:02.5951/103.522
COMMENT: The leader in Friday's first practice has his first front-row start since qualifying second at California in 2004.
11 TONY KANAANTEAM: Andretti Green Racing
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:02.6127/103.493
COMMENT: Last year's race runnerup ran the most laps in the final session but was unable to crack the front row.
6 SAM HORNISHTEAM: Penske Racing
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:02.6758/103.389
COMMENT: Mostly grew up driving ovals but is proving to be a contender on road courses against veterans.
3 HELIO CASTRONEVESTEAM: Penske Racing
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:02.7482/103.270
COMMENT: In the front row for all three IndyCar road course races last year, but not quite as quick yet this weekend.
7 BRYAN HERTATEAM: Andretti Green Racing
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:02.8774/103.058
COMMENT: Last year's pole-sitter got faster with each practice this weekend as AGR keeps showing its depth.
15 BUDDY RICETEAM: Rahal Letterman
CHASSIS: Panoz
TIME/SPEED: 1:03.5648/101.943
COMMENT: Missed the six-car European-style final qualifying by one spot after being in the top six all day Friday.
2 TOMAS SCHECKTERTEAM: Vision Racing
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:03.7143/101.704
COMMENT: Came back from a spin in morning practice, where he made contact with a barrier in Turn 12.
55 KOSUKE MATSUURATEAM: Super Aguri Fernandez
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:03.8033/101.562
COMMENT: Qualified seventh last year and was sixth fastest in Friday practice; continues to run well here.
26 MARCO ANDRETTITEAM: Andretti Green Racing
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:03.8853/101.432
COMMENT: Rookie came back from an incident with Eddie Cheever in Friday practice to put in a strong lap.
20 ROBERTO MORENOTEAM: Vision Racing
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:03.9455/101.336
COMMENT: The veteran, replacing the injured Ed Carpenter this weekend, topped Carpenter's best start from all of 2005.
4 VITOR MEIRATEAM: Panther Racing
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:04.0206/101.217
COMMENT: Finished fifth here last year but hasn't found consistent speed for his new team.
10 DAN WHELDONTEAM: Chip Ganassi Racing
CHASSIS: Panoz
TIME/SPEED: 1:04.0267/101.208
COMMENT: The defending race champion hasn't started this far back since Indianapolis in 2005 - of course, he won there too.
16 DANICA PATRICKTEAM: Rahal Letterman
CHASSIS: Panoz
TIME/SPEED: 1:04.4436/100.553
COMMENT: Hasn't been happy with her form here, but the second-year driver found a bit more speed with each practice.
8 SCOTT SHARPTEAM: Fernandez Racing
CHASSIS: Panoz
TIME/SPEED: 1:04.8588/99.909
COMMENT: Barely cracked 100 mph in the final two practice sessions, but not in qualifying.
14 FELIPE GIAFFONETEAM: A.J. Foyt Racing
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:05.3845/99.106
COMMENT: It has been a while since the Brazilian started up front - his last front-row spot was at Phoenix in 2003.
51 EDDIE CHEEVERTEAM: Cheever Racing
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:05.5475/98.860
COMMENT: Continues his return after a three-year retirement but hasn't found much speed all weekend.
5 BUDDY LAZIERTEAM: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:06.2425/97.822
COMMENT: Qualifying spot was no surprise - the 1996 Indianapolis 500 winner he was second to last in every practice.
91 P.J. CHESSONTEAM: Carmelo Hemelgarn
CHASSIS: Dallara
TIME/SPEED: 1:08.8266/94.150
COMMENT: Continues to struggle in his first IndyCar road race; he hit the Turn 6 barrier and damaged his car's nose in morning practice.