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Next out on track is AGR driver Tony Kanaan, 2004 IndyCar Series champion..................

correction, Kanaan appeared to have aborted his qualifying run, pulling onto pitlane..........

Race control reporting that should AGR get Kanaan back into qualifying, he will get just one qualifying lap(they're reporting electrical problems on the #11 car)

Next out, DRR driver Sarah Fisher; fastest time in practice was a 215.271 mph

1st lap...............215.215 mph
2nd lap..............215.297 mph, provisionally P7

Ed Carpenter now rolling out on-track, the third Vision Racing entry to attempt a qualifying run..............

1st lap..............216.295 mph
2nd lap.............216.154 mph, currently P5

top-5 halfway through qualifying..........Franchitti, Hornish, Castroneves, Scheckter and Carpenter

Scott Dixon, the first of the Target/Ganassi Racing drivers, rolling out on-track; Dixon has won the last three races(Watkins Glen, Nashville and Mid-Ohio)

1st lap................217.369 mph
2nd lap...............217.099 mph, currently P5

Watching the #11 crew, one wonders if they'll diagnose whatever gremlins are in that car.........

A.J. Foyt Racing's Darren Manning out on-track; Manning recently announced that he will be competing in three Le Mans Series(LMS) endurance events later in the year in Europe and in Brazil(the events are Spa, Silverstone and Interlagos for the Mil Milhas)

1st lap.............214.175 mph
2nd lap............214.000 mph, currently slots into P11

The #8 Patron Tequila entry of Scott Sharp rolling onto track; Sharp's fastest time in practice was 216.164 during session #2


1st lap................217.631 mph
2nd lap...............217.314 mph, currently P4

Race control reporting that the #11 crew has found the problems plaguing that entry and they have rolled to the end of the qualifying queue

Next out, Aguri-Panther Racing's Kosuke Matsuura....

1st lap...............215.092 mph
2nd lap..............215.371 mph, currently P9

top-5 with 5 drivers left...........Franchitti, Hornish, Castroneves, Sharp and Scheckter

TGR driver Dan Wheldon rolling out on-track.............

1st lap.................217.448 mph
2nd lap................217.274 mph, provisionally P5

AGR's Marco Andretti rolling out on-track; Andretti's fastest time in practice was 217.199 mph in session #2

1st lap...............215.372 mph
2nd lap..............215.809 mph, slots into P10

Aguri-Panther Racing driver Vitor Meira rolling out on-track; Meira is the last driver originally listed on the qualifying sheet(as w/Kanaan and Patrick, Meira will get only one lap in qualifying)

1st lap.................215.957 mph



Next on the qualifying queue is Andretti-Green Racing's Tony Kanaan, who will get only one timed lap in qualifying
1st lap.................217.192 mph



Final driver out for qualifying is AGR's Danica Patrick; as w/Kanaan and Meira, she will get one timed lap
1st lap.................216.967 mph



Qualifying is over; Dario Franchitti will start tomorrow's race from the pole with a speed of 218.308 mph!

Firestone Indy 400 Starting Grid......................................

1st} Dario Franchitti, #27 Canadian Club/Argent..................32.981 sec/218.308 mph
2nd} Sam Hornish, Jr., #6 Team Penske.............................33.029 sec/218.024 mph

3rd} Helio Castroneves, #3 Team Penske............................33.044 sec/217.894 mph
4th} Scott Sharp, #8 Patron Tequila....................................33.084 sec/217.631 mph

5th} Dan Wheldon, #10 Target...........................................33.111 sec/217.448 mph
6th} Tomas Scheckter, #2 Indy Vision on Joost....................33.114 sec/217.434 mph

7th} Scott Dixon, #9 Target................................................33.123 sec/217.369 mph
8th} Tony Kanaan, #11 Team 7-11......................................33.150 sec/217.192 mph

9th} Danica Patrick, #7 Motorola.........................................33.185 sec/216.967 mph
10th} Ed Carpenter, #20 Hitachi Power Tools.......................33.288 sec/216.295 mph

11th} Vitor Meira, #4 Delphi................................................33.340 sec/215.957 mph
12th}(R)Ryan Hunter-Reay, #17 Ethanol..............................33.352 sec/215.878 mph

13th} Marco Andretti, #26 NYSE Group/i-Shares...................33.363 sec/215.809 mph
14th} Kosuke Matsuura, #55 Panasonic/ARTA.......................33.431 sec/215.371 mph

15th} A.J. Foyt, IV., #22 Indy Vision on Joost........................33.436 sec/215.335 mph
16th} Sarah Fisher, #5 AAMCO Transmissions.......................33.442 sec/215.297 mph

17th} Buddy Rice, #15 RollCoater/Racing for Kids.................33.510 sec/214.859 mph
18th} Darren Manning, #14 ABC Supply Co./GAF/Dow...........33.617 sec/214.175 mph

19th}(R)Milka Duno, #23 CITGO..........................................33.819 sec/212.901 mph
20th} Jon Herb, #19 AERCON/Dad's Root Beer......................no posted time

After being rain-delayed for about 150 minutes or so, all cars are on the pitlane and pre-race ceremonies are underway............race control reporting that the green flag should fly around 4:15 pm US EDT

Note.........for those watching the race on television, the race will be broadcast on ESPN Classic; officials from both the IRL and ABC have agreed to carry the race live online at www.indycar.com (click on the on-site links for live video and live timing/scoring)

According to race control, the track surface from the outside wall down to the track apron is dry sans a few small "weepers" on the frontstraight; on the track apron in front of pitout there are a few "weepers" as well but the track should get a thumbs-up pretty soon

"weepers"......areas along the track where water comes up through the track surface and begins to spill out through small cracks in the asphalt

Race control to all the teams................Drivers to their cars.