The noticeable improvement from AJ Foyt’s team surprised the paddock this Saturday.
On Saturday, May 20th, AJ Foyt was able to advance to the Fast 12 with both of their entries. Since the 90s, the team was not in such a prime position for the Indy 500. They will fight for pole position with 4 Ganassis, 4 McLarens, 1 Ed Carpenter, and 1 Penske.Throughout the whole week of practice, the squad was looking more impressive than in the last seasons. Since the reunification, Foyt’s best result at the 500 was 9th place with Darren Manning in 2008. So, the whole paddock pinned the team as “a surprise to watch”.Benjamin Pedersen was the first car to roll out to qualifying. The Danish-American rookie has not been impressive through the season to date. He is the lowest rookie in the championship standings so far, with his competitors being Agustín Canapino, a Touring Car driver for the whole of his career, and Marcus Armstrong, partnered with a strong outfit in Chip Ganassi Racing, but not racing on the ovals.
But yesterday he produced a seriously impressive effort, and in his maiden qualifying attempt for the Indianapolis 500, he could split the Ganassis of Scott Dixon and Marcus Ericsson and slot into third, with a 4-lap average of 232.734 mph. This attempt was enough for No. 55 to qualify for the 500, and be in the Fast 12 as well.“Honestly, the car is just working fantastic,” Pedersen said. “The team has put so much effort into this event and into giving us a great car. And, you know, the engineers and everyone on the team just really, really delivered so hats off to them. I’m just doing my part and driving the race car but it’s really a true full team effort. And without a good car it’s hard to go anywhere, I’m just very grateful.
“We only did two runs yesterday and I just knew going into qualifying this thing’s gonna be hooked up. And it was. I was actually the most relaxed on this run, because I just knew we had such a great car. It was just a dream with how good it was. But I’m just so happy for the whole team, they did a great job.”
Later, teammate Santino Ferrucci came out to the track. Ferrucci has a great record in Indianapolis. He never finished the Indy 500 worse outside the Top 10. But, qualifying was always his struggle at the Speedway, with his best prior quali being for the 2020 race, only in 19th.
But, this time the Home For Our Troops Chevy was formidable. In only his first run, he snatched 4th place at the time, splitting the Arrow McLarens, the class of the field. He didn’t have to go out again for another run, as his 4-lap average of 233.147 mph was enough for a spot on the Fast 12.
“Yeah, I think it’s a pretty impressive feat for the team. To see the 14 up the front, my teammate right there as well who went earlier in the day, it’s been pretty awesome. To see us up there is pretty sick, man.
“The goal here is to bring home A.J.’s sixth win, sixth 500 victory. I actually feel a lot more comfortable in the race car than I have been in the qualifying car. To be in the Fast 12 and have a shot at pole tomorrow I think is huge.
“Our car definitely has some more in it. It’s getting really tight up top there. Inches are going to make the difference. I’m excited to see what we can do tomorrow.”
