Indianapolis Pre-Race Thread

Qualifying procedure:

- The first qualifying session will lock the top 10 on the starting grid, instead of the top 5.
- The second qualifying session will lock positions 11-30 in (so 20 cars) of the starting grid.
- The third qualifying session will fill the final spots on the grid.

-----

Qualifying, Round 1

-----

Row 1
#9 Arto Kekkonen (FIN)
#2 Mélanie Clévenot (SUI)

Row 2
#5 Luciano Soveral (BRA)
#27 Alexis Rainsford (USA)

Row 3
#7 Adrien Devereux (FRA)
#4 Leonid Roderick (USA)

Row 4
#3 Alessandro Rossini (ITA)
#04 David Krikorian (USA)

Row 5
#16 Kurt Plissken (USA)
#55 Zelda Ashby (JPN)

-----

Qualifying, Round 2

-----

Row 6
#88 Scott Bates (USA)
#175 Vincenzo Fochesato (ITA)

Row 7
#38 Juho Kivela (FIN)
#11 Divina Henton (ENG)

Row 8
#14 Carlos Roqueta (COL)
#46 Frank Azure (USA)

Row 9
#49 Morgan Le Fay (ENG)
#440 Dan Richards (USA)

Row 10
#6 Jacob Kard (CAN)
#93 Ingrid Haddeland (NOR)

Row 11
#56 Tony Durbin (USA)
#28 Hannah Percy (ENG)

Row 12
#12 Chris Johaanes (USA)
#64 Scott Falkner (CAN)

Row 13
#155 James Hewitt (ENG)
#177 Mark Blackwell (USA)

Row 14
#777 Ian Cooper (USA)
#174 Emmanuel Lodi (ITA)
(Both cars in row 14 ran the exact same time. Ordering decided by a coin toss.)

Row 15
#65 Nico Eichel (DEU)
#464 Jacob Eichholtz (USA)

Yokoyama uncertain about making the Round of Indianapolis

After failing to make it through the second round of qualifying Texas native Mason Yokoyama, who is driving a private Tonare Thunder was confused about making his first start at the famous oval after failing to qualify for the Indy 500 for six years. Yokoyama also DNQd for the Macau Grand Prix the previous November after violating the 110% rule. Yokoyama said "Well I'm probably gonna fail to qualify, but that's typical for this race, Karjala, and Decatur, it's difficult to make one of these races." But if he DNQs he said he could run more races, Yokoyama will return for Gravis City, and might have a Promoter's Option in one of the Australian races.

Woodard sure he won't make it in.

Greg Woodard is sure he won't make it in. At least that what reporters are theorizing. The report is based on his postings on twitter. When asked about confirmation, he shrugged his shoulders and said "Meh." He then walked off to his hauler to talk with his crew.

Olenick Unsure of Chances

Two rounds in, and not one Team Saar USA car has made the field for the Round of Indianapolis. Joe Olenick, driver of the #23 Budweiser Saar, was asked about missing the cut in round 2 and what it would take to make the field.

"Honestly, we have to find more speed. This team puts everything we have into every weekend but we haven't had a lot of great results. Cameron [Taylor, Olenick's teammate] and I are going to have to really push to get Saar into the field."

Olenick's rookie year has been challenging, highlighted by several incidents with two-time series champion Adrien Devereux. Olenick has stated that he hopes to continue with Saar for another season, but formal discussions had not yet begun.

Fochesato Qualifies for the Round of Indianapolis

Segafredo Euroteam has brought its three-car lineup from the Karjala Grand Prix over to the United States to attempt the Round of Indianapolis, and has successfully placed two of its drivers in the race after Round 2 of qualifying. Driver Vincenzo Fochesato earned a starting position on Row 6 after setting the second-to-fastest lap of the session, and fellow Italian Emanuele Lodi will start from the outside of Row 14.

Fochesato, a FARC LoBo Truck Tour sophomore racer, unsuccessfully attempted all three of the crown jewel TM Master Cup Series events in 2013 for FIAM Engineering. FIAM is providing Segafredo Euroteam with heavy support for their one-off efforts in this year's special events, and in his fourth attempt at a race this May, Fochesato made his Master Cup debut by achieving a spot in the Karjala Grand Prix. While his run at Karjala lasted just shy of four laps, he now has another chance to race in stock car's premier competition, and will soon make his first TMMCS start on both an oval circuit and in the United States, where he has resided for the majority of his life.

While Lodi did not make the grid at Karjala, he was able to earn a spot in the non-points consolation race. Both Fochesato and Lodi were eliminated from their respective races in Finland after crashing into the same tire barrier. The other Euroteam car, driven by Giuseppe Marchetti, started the KGP in 2013 for FIAM, but missed both the main event and the consolation race this year, and has yet to set a time fast enough to place him in the show this weekend. However, with Round 3 approaching, Marchetti has one more chance to join his teammates in the main race.

Fochesato will start the Round of Indianapolis from the 12th position and on the outside of the defending race winner Scott Bates. Interestingly, the other Segafredo Euroteam car will be starting on the outside of the other Team EFR car, as Lodi will start in the 28th position and on the outside of 2011 race winner Ian Cooper.

Sit Back and Relax: Atlantic Motorsports cars make the Round of Indianapolis

Atlantic Motorsports came to the prestigious Indianapolis Motor Speedway with aspirations of landing a car into the main race, however, just like the 2012 event, they will be sporting two cars in the event. In the second round, both TM Lights driver James Hewitt and Dash Cup championship contender Hannah Percy timed their way into the main event, with Percy qualifying on the outside of Row 11, in 22nd, and with Hewitt on the inside of Row 13, in 25th.

Neither driver have make an appearance in a special event in the TM Master Cup Series before, and while it will be Hewitt's first outing in a TMMC event, this will be Percy's 5th series start.

"I'm so so excited to even be here. I still find it hard to fathom that I'll be racing in the main event!" said Percy, still elated after her qualifying effort, "Hopefully we can avoid an early crash this time! We've been collected in lap 1 incidents every race in TMMC this year, so hopefully we can take the checkered without any damage!"

Atlantic Motorsports finished 20th and 21st in 2012, with Carla Rosinski and Ben Atkins in the cars. This year, they will be looking to better that.

Would just like to note here that I ran the actual race three weeks ago, but I've literally been sick every weekend since I ran it and I sound like I have a fatal disease (I don't actually, it's the worst cold(s) ever).