Penske driver Sam Hornish Jr has been lightning quick in all of the practice sessions leading up to qualifying day at Indianapolis.
He tallied the fastest speed on every day of practice except one. And then he topped it off by claiming the coveted pole position for the ninetieth running of the Indianapolis 500 with a four-lap average of 228.985 mile per hour.
But Hornish recognizes that it will take more than just four fast laps in order to claim the elusive prize. First of all, he must endure to the checkered flag. In his previous six starts, he has yet to finish the race.
The two-time IRL champion isn't the only Penske powered driver primed and ready for the Indianapolis 500. Helio Castroneves qualified second for the big race with a speed of 228.008 miles per hour.
Two-time Indy champion Castroneves has materialized as one of the odds on favorite after winning two of the first three IRL races in 2006, and by leading the IRL standings by 39 points over Chip Ganassi Racing's Dan Wheldon.
Even though the Penske drivers appear to be the dominant force, Chip Ganassi Racing should not be disregarded. Both Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon have been just a tad behind the Penske boys on the speed charts. Wheldon will start the Indianapolis 500 in third and Dixon will start the race in fourth.
Could we see a Penske-Ganassi showdown in this year's Indianapolis 500?
Other drivers to watch in Sunday's main event are Tony Kanaan, Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti, Vitor Meira, and Scott Sharp.
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