'What They're Saying' from Indianapolis 500 Qualifications Day 1

Rank, car number in parentheses, driver, team, aero kit-engine, time and speed in parentheses and respective quote:

1. (5) James Hinchcliffe, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Honda, 02:35.8803 (230.946)

"It was pretty good. I mean it was really good. What am I talking about? Huge credit to the Schmidt Peterson Motorsport guys. They've worked so hard on these race cars since back in February. We've got three quick ones. I mean, the No. 77 and the No. 7 were quick as well. After our first run, we didn't quite maximize. I made some mistakes on my shifting pattern. I was kind of mad at myself about that. Kind of got in my own head a little bit. We made some changes. We knew everybody was going to go out again and try and improve, and we made a couple changes to the car, because, I mean, the Arrow Electronics car was not only fast but it held on for all four laps. The consistency was there. That was a big key today. It doesn't mean much today; it's bragging rights. It's pay for the boys, because it validates all the effort they put into this race car. It gets us in the Fast Nine, obviously, which was what the big point today was and hopefully we can go out there tomorrow and do something similar."

2. (28) Ryan Hunter-Reay, DHL, Honda, 02:35.9755 (230.805)

"We had the fastest car on Wednesday - which was great, but we had some troubles toward the end of the week so today we've just been getting up to speed. Our first run we just didn't have the balance, but our last run was great. I really have to give credit to the whole No. 28 DHL Honda team - these guys, when I needed them they were there with the right settings, the car was great. I also really want to thank Honda for really pushing it here. They're absolutely hanging it all on the edges as we are (the drivers). It's making for a great show out there. Hopefully tomorrow we come away with the pole."

3. (12) Will Power, Verizon Team Penske, Chevrolet, 02:36.0225 (230.736)

"Yeah, it was just conditions. Honestly I didn't change anything on the car and didn't trim out any more. It was just a matter of picking the right time to go in that line and making sure that you made it, too, that you didn't go too far back in the line. But yeah, the team picked it perfectly and made it in. So hopefully have a shot tomorrow. I think there's very fast cars out there and it will be a really good show for the fans."

4. (3) Helio Castroneves, Pennzoil Team Penske, Chevrolet, 02:36.1822 (230.500)

“Definitely tricky conditions helped us today. The Pennzoil Chevrolet has good balance, but unfortunately we haven't found speed. These tricky conditions helped us to get ourselves up there. We are going to go out again and see what happens. But at the moment, we have to find some more speed. We have been lacking a little bit of speed that we don't know exactly where to get it from. But my team is doing a phenomenal job. Chevy is doing a phenomenal job. But sometimes it is just what you expect. We are doing everything we can to minimize those issues. But at the end of the day, the most important thing is the race. We are still fighting to get up there in qualifying for the race.”

5. (29) Townsend Bell, California Pizza Kitchen/Robert Graham Honda, 02:36.2147 (230.452)

"Today was pretty edgy. The first lap was good, the second lap was a little harder. The third lap I made a bit of a bobble in Turn 1 and then tried to make up for it on the fourth lap. But the California Pizza Kitchen / Robert Graham car has been awesome and the Honda power is terrific. I can't complain to be contending for the pole tomorrow. It's fun to come back to Indy and have that opportunity."

6. (21) Josef Newgarden, Preferred Freezer, Chevrolet, 02:36.3658 (230.229)

"The main objective was to get into the Fast Nine; it didn't really matter how quick we were we just needed to be in that group. Fortunately we get to go for the pole tomorrow and then try and get as many points as we can because qualifying has a good amount of points; almost like a race win. I think our main goal is the race. Getting into the Top Nine was a big achievement, I think we'll take whatever we can tomorrow, but still going to try and go for it and get as high as possible."

7. (7) Mikhail Aleshin, SMP Racing Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Honda, 02:36.3798 (230.209)

"I think everything was in seconds in the end. I just managed to go out on track and that was my only chance to get up there. You know, with team help I obviously used it for 100 percent. I want to congratulate the team, all the team with the results that we had. I think all the team is very strong and especially James' results shows it. I think it's a good official start of the weekend. And good official start of 500 for all team. Yeah, we start from there."

8. (26) Carlos Munoz, United Fiber & Data, Honda, 02:36.4042 (230.173)

"I lost a little bit on my first lap, it just wasn't there. Today the conditions were very tough, after the rain and the wind. My last three laps were very fast and the goal today was to be in the top nine. I think we've had a very good United Fiber & Data Car all week and I am really happy we will have the opportunity to work for pole position tomorrow. I think we have a good chance to start the '500' from first."

9. (22) Simon Pagenaud, Menards Team Penske, Chevrolet, 02:36.4522 (230.102)

Following Guarenteed Attempts: ""It rained last night and when you get an early draw like I did, , which was great initially if it didn't rain. But the fact that it did rain made the track really slick because it took away all the rubber we put down yesterday. We had to put some down force in the car from where we were yesterday to at least see how the car was behaving and put a lap in really. I know we are going to go back out tonight. At 6:00 the track will be amazing, and the wind is going to die down at the end of the day. That will be the time to be on the track. I think we are going to see some big numbers. That run was just a balance check really. It went pretty well. We have good balance and it was a good start."

10. (98) Alexander Rossi, NAPA Auto Parts/Curb, Honda, 02:36.4893 (230.048)

"It's disappointing. We spent the entire day inside the Fast Nine to get bumped out with just a few seconds left in qualifying. We thought we were safe, it's just a shame we won't be competing for pole tomorrow. I know we have one of the best cars on the track and we could've seen the NAPA Auto Parts/Curb car on the front row for the 100th Running. We will just have to make sure we end the day in tenth tomorrow."

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