INDIANAPOLIS -- For the first time since record keeping at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the only bumping that went on at the track on the final day of qualifications was in line at the concession stands.
For the first time since 1947, no bumping took place on bump day. In fact, since the Speedway started keeping records in 1950, Sunday became the first time the field was set without a bump. In 1947 the field was not full.
With 24 spots filled heading into Sunday's day of qualifying, it took nearly all day, but the final nine spots slowly claimed drivers.
The fastest time of the day came from Alex Barron, who finished his four-lap average at 227.274. Barron's effort put him on the inside of row nine.
Second fastest on the afternoon was the last driver of the day. Vitor Meira took to the track just after 4 p.m. for a four-lap average of 227.158, placing him in the middle of the ninth row, next to Barron.
Other notables on the afternoon included Billy Boat and Jimmy Vasser. For the first time in several years Boat was able to take a sigh of relief after his run and not worry about being bumped -- not because of the lack of entries, but because of the speed of his run.
Boat finished with a time of 225.598 placing him in the middle of the tenth row.
"After the last couple of years, we definitely didn't want to be in that position again," Boat said. "We knew what we needed. And we didn't want to get greedy so we took what we had."
Vasser, the other driver for Rahal/Letterman Racing aside from Kenny Brack, put in a solid run for the outside of the ninth row. Vasser finished with a four-lap average of 226.873.
"We took a bunch of down force out of the car," Vasser said. "Even with the drag numbers that we had on the car, the car should have been much quicker than that. We just opted to put a little more wing in it and go ahead and qualify it and race it."
Vasser, one of the more seasoned drivers in this year's field, said that starting near the rear of the field shouldn't be that big of a concern.
"I'm energized and encouraged for the Argent car on race day," Vasser said. "I know we're starting back a bit, but it's 500 miles. I've been back there before," he said. "I've been down a lap in a 500-mile race and end up winning."
Earlier in the day, the Speedway became home to yet another race. The inaugural Freedom 100 finished on Sunday after being rained out on Saturday. The Infiniti Pro Series race was won by Ed Carpenter, who captured his first ever Infiniti Pro Series win. Carpenter is of the A.J. Foyt Racing Dallara/Infiniti team.
The win marked Foyt's fifth career win in the series after Carpenter led 39 off the 40-lap race.
"We made a change last night after the rain delay, and A.J. hit it right on the head," Carpenter said. "I have to credit that for the win today. A.J. knows this place. It's unreal. The car was perfect. It was fun to drive."
Foyt was equally joyful after the inaugural Freedom 100.
"It makes me thrilled that we bring the car from Houston, Texas, have it sit on the pole and lead the whole race with Ed Carpenter," Foyt said. "... but to come here to the biggest racetrack in the world and sit on the pole and win the race means an awful lot to A.J. Foyt and our whole team."
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