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Indy 500 qualifying blog: Rain puts qualifying on hold, VeeKay leads

Positions 13 through 33 are locked in. The top 12 will compete Sunday to set the rest of the starting grid, including the pole position.

SPEEDWAY, Ind. — All 33 cars were able to get at least one try at qualifying on Saturday before rain at Indianapolis Motor Speedway put qualifying on hold.

The first day of qualifications for next Sunday's Indianapolis 500 got underway at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday. The start time was moved up from noon late Friday by IndyCar due to a rainy weather forecast for the afternoon.

The first run through the qualifying order was completed before the rain arrived at 2:14 p.m., with Rinus VeeKay leading. He now holds the third-fastest four-lap average speed in Indy 500 qualifying history.

VeeKay topped the Scoring Pylon with his four-lap average speed of 233.655 mph, followed by teammates Pato O'Ward and Felix Rosenqvist.

O'Ward is second at 233.037 and Rosenqvist is third at 232.775.

The fastest 12 cars from Saturday's qualifying will race Sunday afternoon to set the rest of the starting grid, including the pole position.

5:00 p.m. - Due to inclement weather, IndyCar concluded the remainder of qualifying. Positions 13-33 are set. Day 2 of qualifying starts Sunday afternoon. 

4:01 p.m. - Lightning has been detected at the track. Fans have been asked to leave the stands. 

3:57 p.m. -

Rinus VeeKay's run of 233.655, which was posted in the first ten minutes of qualifying this morning, still leads the field:

  1. Rinus VeeKay - 233.655
  2. Pato O'Ward - 233.037
  3. Felix Rosenqvist - 232.775
  4. Alex Palou - 232.774
  5. Tony Kanaan - 232.625
  6. Jimmie Johnson - 232.398
  7. Ed Carpenter - 232.397
  8. Marcus Ericsson - 232.275
  9. Romain Grosjean - 232.201
  10. Scott Dixon - 232.151
  11. Will Power - 231.842
  12. Takuma Sato - 231.798
  13. David Malukas - 231.607
  14. Josef Newgarden - 231.580
  15. Santino Ferrucci - 231.508 
  16. Simon Pagenaud - 231.275 
  17. JR Hildebrand - 231.112
  18. Conor Daly - 230.999
  19. Callum Ilott - 230.961
  20. Alexander Rossi - 230.812 
  21. Graham Rahal - 230.766
  22. Sage Karem - 230.464 
  23. Marco Andretti - 230.345
  24. Devlin DeFrancesco - 230.326
  25. Colton Herta - 230.235
  26. Scott McLaughlin - 230.154 
  27. Helio Castroneves - 229.630
  28. Kyle Kirkwood - 229.406
  29. Dalton Kellett - 228.916
  30. Juan Pablo Montoya - 228.622
  31. C. Lundgaard - 227.053
  32. Jack Harvey - 226.851

3:33 p.m. - Fans are being welcomed back to their seats at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

2:30 p.m. - Track drying is underway, with qualifying resuming when the surface is dry. Stay tuned for weather and schedule updates.

2:22 p.m. - Indianapolis Motor Speedway has asked all fans and people at the track to exit the grandstands and to seek shelter. 

2:20 p.m. - Rain is falling at the track. All 33 cars had at least one attempt at qualifying. In doing that, the top 12 is set and will advance. 

1:40 p.m. - Race teams are jockeying for position now, hoping to hold onto spots in the top 12 for a shot at the pole position tomorrow.

12:30 p.m. - Track temperatures are climbing, making early afternoon qualifying runs more difficult to find speed. 

The slowest qualifier so far is defending champion Helio Castroneves, who is looking to become the first man to win the 500 five times.

12:00 - By starting an hour earlier, IndyCar has already filled 13 spots in the 33-car field. Rinus VeeKay still holds the top spot. 

  1. Rinus VeeKay - 233.655
  2. Pato O'Ward - 233.037
  3. Felix Rosenqvist - 232.775
  4. Tony Kanaan - 232.625
  5. Jimmie Johnson - 232.398
  6. Romain Grosjean - 232.201
  7. Takuma Sato - 232.196
  8. David Malukas - 231.233
  9. JR Hildebrand - 231.112
  10. Graham Rahal - 230.766
  11. Devlin DeFrancesco - 230.326
  12. Callum Ilott - 230.212
  13. Marco Andretti - 226.108

11:15 a.m. - Rinus VeeKay topped Pato O'Ward's posted time. VeeKay is the fastest of four qualifiers for now at 233.655. Felix Rosenqvist posted a 232.775 as stands third-fastest. Callum Ilott is fourth.

11:06 a.m. - Pato O'Ward became the first driver to qualify for the Indy 500 with an average speed of 233.037 on his four laps around the oval.

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