Indianapolis 500 qualifying results
After two weeks of daily track time, Gabby Chaves is looking forward to a mental break. But competing in his first Indianapolis 500 Mile Race will be a constant thought leading up to the May 24 race.
Chaves and KV Racing Technology driver Stefano Coletti were recognized at the 401h Fastest Rookie of the Year luncheon presented by the American Dairy Association Indiana. Chaves joins 500 Mile Race luminaries such as Rick Mears, Michael Andretti, Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Jacques Villeneuve, Juan Pablo Montoya, Chip Ganassi and Tony Stewart as the fastest rookie award winner.
Chaves, driving the No. 98 Bowers & Wilkins/Curb Honda for Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian, recorded a four-lap average speed of 222.916 to qualify in the middle of Row 10 for the 99th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 24.
"We aren't starting where we'd like to, but we are the fastest rookie and that means a lot to me," said Chaves, 21, who won the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires Freedom 100 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval in 2014. "After 'Fast Friday' we really believed that we had a shot at making it into the Fast Nine (in qualifying). We were fourth quickest, just under 230 mph. With that curveball thrown at us (first day of qualifications canceled by rain and aerodynamic and boost level changes mandated in the name of safety by INDYCAR for the second day) it was hard for us to set up the car and find a spot where we thought we'd be able to race well and qualify well.
"Having to race with our qualifying trim, we opted to have a better car in the race rather than qualifying, which hurt us a bit. But just being able to race here now changes your whole perspective on everything."
Coletti (at right) qualified in the middle of Row 11 with an average speed of 222.001 mph. The 26-year-old driver from Monaco will be competing in his first Verizon IndyCar Series race on an oval.
"I've always wanted to come and race here and be part of this amazing race, and here I am and I'm thrilled and can't wait to race," Coletti said.
The American Dairy Association of Indiana presents a bottle of milk to the winner of the race -- a traditional part of the Victory Circle celebration since 1933, when Louis Meyer requested a cold glass of buttermilk.
Following his victory in ’36, Meyer was photographed drinking milk in Victory Lane. Milk was presented off and on during the next several years until in 1956 the bottle of milk was made a permanent part of the post-race ceremony by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman.
