"Obviously, it's unfortunate we didn't get to qualify today because the Team 7-Eleven car was the quickest car on the track yesterday," Thursday pacesetter Kanaan admitted, "but we're starting third and we've had good results at Motegi in the past, so I'm hopeful we'll be able to get the race in tomorrow."
Patrick reported that the #7 Motorola Dallara-Honda 'is okay right now, but we need to find more front grip' after fighting understeer in practice, but will line up ahead of Vision Racing twins Ed Carpenter and AJ Foyt IV, who start from row four.
Hideki Mutoh and Ryan Hunter-Reay, making their first IndyCar Series starts at Twin Ring Motegi, will be on the fifth row.
"Unfortunately, with the rainout today, we were shorted an opportunity as we were really looking forward to moving up the grid," Hunter-Reay - who nevertheless 'improved' on his 13th spot from practice - claimed, "I was really looking forward to making the car better over the day. We were really strong yesterday on older tyres at the end of practice and I am sure that there was still more in the car. While we would have liked to have had a shot at moving up though, starting tenth isn't bad and, if we have a good race car, all that will be undone in the first few laps anyway. We'll just go about it like we did at Homestead and move up the field and look to have a good strong day."
The rain probably had the biggest impact on Team Penske's Ryan Briscoe, the Australian paying the price for two non-finishes at Homestead and St Petersburg. Briscoe had been seventh quickest in practice, but will start 15th at Motegi.
Roger Yasukawa, making his seasonal debut in the #77 Interush/Wellman Racing car for Beck Motorsports, will start 18th.
![Helio Castroneves - Team Penske, Homestead Open Testing [Pic credit: IndyCar Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/410776.jpg)
