Newgarden just misses out on pole: "It's a tough pill to swallow"

James Hinchcliffe barely edged the American young gun with a 230.760mph average speed. Newgarden was the fourth driver out and held on against an onslaught of heavy hitters. Helio Castroneves, Will Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay, but Hinchcliffe had just enough to get the job done.

"It was difficult waiting. I tried to remind myself, look it's not about the -- The pole is incredible, you want to win the pole. i wanted to win it so bad. I don't want it to sound like I didn't want it. It would have been amazing. You know, I was trying to remind myself we got to win this race. we got to figure out what we need to do to win the race. 

"It's a shame we couldn't get the pole, but you can't take anything away from James, Honda and his whole group. They really are a stout operation. They deserved everything they got today."

Everyone will remember Hinchcliffe's pole, but for Newgarden, he'll be left with the thought of what almost was. But he can take solace in the fact that he has a hot rod under him for the big show next weekend.

"It's a tough pull to swallow. I try to remind myself it's not just about today's battle, it's about the war, and we've got to try and get that done next week in the 500.

"I was really hopeful. I thought we had enough there."