Rain again postpones qualifying

"We tried to keep all options open and balance all kinds of factors before making a decision," said Brian Barnhart, president and chief operating officer of the Indy Racing League.

"We had four scheduled days to qualify. We're going to stick to those four scheduled days. Our original plan called for 33 cars to be in the field by the third qualifying day, so we're going to stick with that plan and do positions one through 33 on Saturday."

Showers returned shortly after several drivers managed to record the fastest laps yet during a pre-qualifying practice session.

Dan Wheldon and Sam Hornish Jr., the favorites to win the pole position, both topped 228 mph. Wheldon recorded the fastest lap of the month so far - 228.663 mph - in the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda/Dallara during that session, followed by Sam Hornish Jr. at 228.220 mph in the No. 6 Marlboro Team Penske Honda/Dallara.

Helio Castroneves also turned in a solid lap during the practice session, reaching 227.888 mph in the No. 3 Penske Honda/Dallara.

In the first practice group, Scott Dixon was clocked at 227.274 mph in the No. 9 Ganassi Honda/Dallara. Before Sunday, nobody had reached 227 mph.

Instead of three separate days of qualifying for 11 positions each day as originally scheduled, the entire 33-car field will be open next Saturday, with bump day scheduled for May 21. IRL and IMS officials said they faced staffing issues if they had attempted to qualify Monday.

"A lot of the people who work for us in pit tech and timing and scoring and observers have other jobs," Barnhart said.
 
"They weren't planning on being here those two days (Monday and Tuesday). We also took the competitors into consideration and tomorrow's weather forecast, which isn't much better."

Rain also had caused postponement of Saturday's pole qualifying session, forcing IRL and IMS officials to combine the scheduled first and second days into Sunday's scheduled program.
 
However, rain returned after a brief respite Sunday, forcing the first rainout of the entire first weekend of qualifying at Indianapolis since 1983.

Drivers will practice as previously scheduled on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before Saturday's qualifying session. Once the 33-car grid is filled, teams will begin bumping on Sunday.