Pre-qualifying was today- which just set the 9 drivers to compete for the pole.
Alonso did well, and made it in the top 9.
Bourdais was doing well, until he crashed- and no doubt will not make the race- the crash into turn two was hard, and he fractured his pelvis. Big bummer, as he was really fast.
One thing I did note- only 31 cars pre-qualified today. So I wonder if two other cars/drivers will show up tomorrow to fill the field. Even with Bourdais, there were only 32.
Pole and final grid set tomorrow.
Nasty, nasty crash. Alonso is surely in the game.
I am seriously following these cars this year - that crash was nasty yesterday.
I've been to 20 Indy 500's and I haven't been back in 10 years due to burnout but man I miss that day. Watching it on TV is nothing like being there. You have to go once in your life to this race.
I hated to see Bourdais crash, and I hope he makes a good recovery. He is such a fine man and talented driver, who excels in sports cars, Indy cars, whatever. And you won't see it on TV, but he and Patrick Long recently co-chaired a charity Pro-Am kart race that raised over $80,000 for John Hopkins All Children's Hospital, in his adopted home town of St. Petersburg.
Seb is a great guy. Not just a fantastic driver but a great person. That crash really sucked. I'm so glad his injuries weren't worse. I think he was doing something like 231 when it happened, right?
Looks like Alonso is one of the drivers who qualified high enough to run for pole.
Feel really bad for Seabass. He was having a great season, and now he's done for the year. I don't envy him the surgery and therapy he's in for, either.
SBNATION: 5:18 p.m. ET — Fernando Alonso continues to impress, this time grabbing the provisional pole with all four laps over 231 mph.
That was fun qualifying. With this format, it's nice to see more than one driver be faster than 10th.
And Fernando starts a very respectable 5th. Not bad.
Wiggle at 230+ inches from wall. Pictures do not do it justice.
Hell of a run by Dixon. And for Carpenter, for that matter, to be right up there with the big teams.
"Everybody is talking about turn two today, Fernando. Did you have any moments in two?"
Fernando, with big smile, "Every time!"
In reply to vwcorvette:
How about Sato...I think he kissed the wall pretty hard coming out of turn 2 on at least a couple of his laps 
Looking forward to it----- I'll be there once again! 28 years in a row!
Joe Gearin wrote:
Looking forward to it----- I'll be there once again! 28 years in a row!
I am only at 20 - 500's. A big part of the race are the events leading to the race - Purdue marching band, motorcycle State Troopers doing bike tricks, Jim Nabor's (well, no more) - there is nothing like the National Anthem being sung and the military flyover. Even the prayer gets me teared up a bit.
My first race was in 1977 as a 14 year old and I had a seat with my cousin as our Dad's were firemen in the pits so we had our seats near the tower. When 33 cars come screaming down the straightaway the first lap it is a sight to see and hear, the TV doesn't show you how crazy this first lap is.
If only I could get to the race and not deal with the traffic craziness........
Pace Car - 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88 driven by James Garner.
Bottom right - two guys standing with yellow "500 Pit Fire Crew" shirts on. Guy on right is my Dad - he was a huge fan of the 500 and oddly enough not a race fan of any other cars or races - just the Indy 500.
