HPD Trackside -- Saturday IndyCar qualifying report

Led by Andretti Autoport’s Takuma Sato, six Honda drivers completed qualifying runs among the top nine drivers today in first-round qualifying at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and will take part in Sunday’s “Fast Nine” shootout for the coveted pole position in the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 28.

The tight first-round qualifying battle Saturday – held under changing weather conditions after activities were delayed by rain for approximately five hours – saw the nine pole contenders separated by less than a half mile per hour over four laps around the historic 2.5-mile Brickyard.

Following Sato, second fastest on the day, was Scott Dixon for Chip Ganassi Racing, third. Defending race winner Alexander Rossi posted the fifth-fastest average for Andretti Autosport, with teammate Fernando Alonso slotting in seventh as the only Indy 500 rookie to make the Fast Nine shootout. Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti rounded out the nine finalists for the pole.