Happy Speed targets points finish

"I am convinced we need to have more races in America, because we seem to have better luck in qualifying," said Speed, who will start the Indianapolis race from 13th position.

"This was the first time for several races that I didn't run into traffic. We did a good job of engineering the car today.

"We have a good balance on new and old tyres which is hard to get here and that should carry through to the race. It's great to outqualify the Red Bull Racing guys. Starting this far up the grid, I think we've got a great opportunity for points."

Speed, who had been stripped of his first Formula One point at the Australian Grand Prix for overtaking under yellow, finished eight places ahead of Toro Rosso teammate Tonio Liuzzi.

The Italian endured a troubled qualifying and failed to make the first cut.

"I had a massive problem with understeer on the first lap with new tyres," he said. "At Turn 8, I went over the kerb and the car flew about one and a half metres into the air. I think I must have broken something at the front and was not able to do another quick lap.

"I don't know where all the understeer came from, with a big shift in balance we did not expect from what we had seen in the morning."