“The car has definitely shown signs of consistency right from the start, which is a positive," the youngster commented, "No big changes, we're just kind of tinkering away at it. We're really just working on what I'm sure the majority of the field is working on right now – just taking off downforce and trying to keep the balance good. And so far, so good. Hopefully, tomorrow, we'll roll off the same.
"I'm sure, like everybody else, my first attempt I'm going to go for it, but I'm expecting to have to go again. I just want to get it in on the first day, but obviously the pole would be huge. I'm not sure, if I get bumped to second, that I would line up again but, having said that, I'm not sure that we'll be exactly safe three-quarters through the day even if we're fifth, so I'll definitely be prepared to go again.”
Andretti refused to be drawn on who his biggest rival for pole would be, claiming that, following unification, 'it could be one of 22 guys or girls'. Despite that, the usual suspects featured at the top of the charts on Fast Friday, with IRL powerhouses Ganassi, Andretti Green and Penske filling out the top six spots, with Danica Patrick (eighth) and Helio Castroneves (tenth) also up there. Only Vitor Meira and Tomas Scheckter managed to break the monopoly, sandwiching the Motorola car.
“Man, our car is fast," Meira enthused about his Panther machine, "The only issue we had is in Turn One, where the car is pushing, but, in the other three turns, the car is great. On our fastest lap, I even lifted a little in one, so I know we're going to be quick tomorrow. I don't know where we'll end up because there are a lot of quick cars out here, but we feel like we can get in the show tomorrow.”
Will Power again headed those driver still trying to catch up on IndyCar experience, slotting into 14th spot on the timesheets behind Castroneves' spare car. But the Australian felt that he could have done even better.
