2010 Indy Lights Homestead 100 (Round 13, Qualifying)

Tonight, Londoner Pippa Mann secured her third Indy Lights pole position of the 2010 season.
The popular Sam Schmidt driver took the top spot with a two-lap average speed of 186.597 mph ahead of AFS / Andretti-Autosport’s Charlie Kimball.

Whereas Mann and Kimball grasp of the front row was solid, the pack behind was tantalisingly close. Brandon Wagner (Davey Hamilton Racing) and Philip Major (Sam Schmidt Motorsports) nabbed 3rd and 4th respectively.
Although the gap between the pair of the second row was tiny, it would not compare at all to the following drivers. The returning Wade Cunningham and one-time title contender James Hinchcliffe registered identical speeds – Cunningham was awarded the 5th spot by virtue of setting it first.

Gustavo Yacaman (7th) and Martin Plowman (8th) were also separated by mere thousandths, while Sean Guthrie (9th) was very close behind. Adrian Campos Jr picked up the outside of row five for Team Moore Racing ahead of series rookie and USAC driver Henry Clarke (11th). Namesake and former Champ Car driver, Dan Clarke will line up 12th.
Down in 13th, JK Vernay only needs to start the pace lap tomorrow to crowned Indy Lights Champion for 2010 thanks to an absurd points system that allows drivers to score points once they fire their engines. Indeed, it is a drawback, as it kills the relevance of this race before it even starts.

Daniel Herrington (14th) and Dillon Battistini (15th) both make their second appearances of the season, with Arie Luyendyk Jr returning for his fourth event – he will start 16th. A well off the pace Rodrigo Barbosa will be at the tail of the field tomorrow evening – the PDM Racing driver clocked a time that was well off the pace.

The 13th and final round of the Firestone Indy Lights gets the green flag tomorrow at 9pm (BST) with pre-race starting 15 minutes beforehand. Race coverage can be found solely at indycar.com.

Homestead-Miami Speedway, Qualifying (October 1st)
SP Car Driver           Team                                  Time    Speed
1  11 Pippa Mann        Sam Schmidt Motorsports               57.2999 186.597
2  26 Charlie Kimball   AFS / Andretti-Autosport              57.3782 186.343
3  32 Brandon Wagner    Davey Hamilton Racing                 57.4754 186.027
4  49 Philip Major      Sam Schmidt Motorsports               57.5151 185.899
5  77 Wade Cunningham   Sam Schmidt Motorsports               57.5373 185.827
6   2 James Hinchcliffe Team Moore Racing                     57.5373 185.827
7  10 Gustavo Yacaman   Cape Motorsport / Wayne Taylor Racing 57.6442 185.483
8  27 Martin Plowman    AFS / Andretti-Autosport              57.6479 185.471
9   4 Sean Guthrie      Andersen Racing                       57.6587 185.436
10 22 Adrian Campos Jr. Team Moore Racing                     57.6866 185.346
11 34 Henry Clarke      Davey Hamilton Racing                 57.8194 184.921
12 40 Dan Clarke        Walker Racing                         57.8194 184.921
13 7 J.K. Vernay        Sam Schmidt Motorsports               57.9153 184.614
14 36 Daniel Herrington O2 Racing Technology                  58.0053 184.328
15 29 Dillon Battistini Bryan Herta Autosport                 58.1707 183.804
16 24 Arie Luyendyk Jr. Alliance Motorsports                  58.2679 183.497
17 18 Rodrigo Barbosa   PDM Racing                            59.0573 181.045