Qualifying: Craft-Bamboo Mercedes leads fastest 15 into Indy Pole Shootout

Qualifying: Craft-Bamboo Mercedes leads fastest 15 into Indy Pole Shootout
  • PROVISIONAL RESULTS - Q1
  • PROVISIONAL RESULTS - Q2
  • PROVISIONAL RESULTS - Q3
  • PROVISIONAL RESULTS - COMBINED
  • POLE SHOOTOUT LIST - PDF Link

Craft-Bamboo Racing led the way in Qualifying for the Indianapolis 8 Hour Presented by AWS as its trio of factory drivers began to show their ultimate pace aboard the #99 Mercedes-AMG.

The Hong Kong squad topped the first of three 15-minute sessions with Luca Stolz at the wheel, while Maro Engel and Jules Gounon also posted competitive efforts to guarantee safe passage to this afternoon's Pole Shootout. 

Audi Sport Team WRT was second on aggregate times with its #37 crew of Müller/Frijns/Drudi, while the #3 K-PAX Racing Lamborghini was also fast in the hands of Bortolotti/Caldarelli/Pepper. AF Corse completed a top-four featuring as many different GT3 manufacturers with its #51 Ferrari driven by Fuoco/Ilott/Rovera.

There were no upsets during Qualifying, with all 10 competing Pro crews booking a spot in the deciding battle for pole. They will be joined by four Silver Cup contenders, as well as the standout Pro-Am entry from SunEnergy1 Racing (#75 Mercedes-AMG), the latter already sure of its own class pole. Positions 16 and back are now locked in for the race, pending post-session penalties.

GT World Challenge America competitors make up five of the Top 15 cars eligible for the Pole Shootout. In order of average qualifying position, they are: #3 K-PAX Racing Lamborghini (1:34.641 avg), #33 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG (1:35.168), #6 K-PAX Racing Lamborghini (1:35.664), #93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura (1:35.775) and #20 Wright Motorsports Porsche (1:35.885).

The single-driver Pole Shootout begins at 4:20 pm EDT and will see 15 cars contest a 15-minute session at IMS as they chase a place at the front of the grid for for tomorrow's eight-hour race.