Full field set for Indianapolis 500

The field is set for the Indianapolis 500. And, more importantly, it’s full.

On an otherwise ho-hum day of qualifying, nine cars made the field on their first attempts, ending any potential last-minute drama and assuring Sunday’s race would start with a full field of 33 cars for 64th consecutive year. Things went almost as smoothly Sunday as race organizers could have expected.

The script could have been better.

For the first time since 2004, there were no bump attempts – taking away the intrigue of last year’s enthralling finish when Marco Andretti bumped his way into the race by knocking out teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay on the final four-lap qualifying attempt of the month. Heck, there weren’t even any rumors floating around Gasoline Alley about late additions to Indy’s entry list.

The three slowest qualifiers, all of whom qualified at less than 215 mph, didn’t have to sweat out anything. It will be the first time the 11th row is filled with cars under 215 since 2004, too.

Despite getting a rude welcome to the Brickyard’s 2.5-mile oval, former Formula One driver Jean Alesi still made the race. The Frenchman will start 33rd after finishing with a four-lap qualifying average of 210.094 – the slowest speed of any Indy starter since the late Fermin Velez went 206.512 in 1997.

Now the bigger questions.

Simona de Silvestro and Alesi will be the only drivers using the lumbering Lotus engines in Sunday’s race. They’ll start 32nd and 33rd. De Silvestro had the second-slowest qualification speed at 214.393.

Alesi has already said he feels “unsafe” on the track with faster cars trying to pass him and worries he’ll become an impediment to other drivers. He was almost 16 1/2 mph slower than Saturday’s pole winner, Australia’s Ryan Briscoe, who went 226.484.

IndyCar has a rule requiring cars to perform within speeds at least 105 percent of the leader and demonstrate consistency with control, placement and interaction with other cars on the track. Cars that don’t meet the requirements can be black-flagged.

Some in Gasoline Alley say Lotus cars have handling troubles, too, even at speeds substantially slower than the fastest drivers. Lotus officials flatly denied the assertion Sunday.

Last year, with only Charlie Kimball’s lapped car between JR Hildebrand and the finish line, Hildebrand tried to pass on the high side and wound up in the fourth turn wall. Hildebrand walked away from the collision but finished second.

It’s enough of a concern that Lotus and IndyCar officials have discussed potential solutions, Lotus IndyCar project manager John Judd said Sunday. A decision is not to be expected until later this week.

IndyCar fines teams for violations

Series officials levied $275,000 in fines to 13 different teams, including pole-sitter Ryan Briscoe. In all, there were 18 infractions.

Track historian Donald Davidson said all of the numbers were believed to be a one-day record even though the series has not always announced infractions or fines. But none of the 13 drivers were assessed grid penalties, meaning their starting spots in Sunday’s race will not be affected.

Series officials declined to comment after issuing the penalties that were handed down about 30 minutes after the second and final day of qualifying ended at the 2.5-mile oval, and most of the teams had already left the track when the announcement was made.

All three cars that qualified for the front row of next Sunday’s race were punished.

Briscoe, James Hinchcliffe and Ryan Hunter-Reay must pay a combined total of $70,000 for six rules infractions.

Stenhouse wins 3rd straight at Iowa

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. led for 209 of 250 laps and won the NASCAR Nationwide race at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, his third straight win on Iowa’s short oval.

Michael McDowell was third, followed by rookie Austin Dillon and Kurt Busch.

Beckman wins at Summernationals

Jack Beckman raced to his first Funny Car victory of the season, beating Don Schumacher Racing teammate Ron Capps in the NHRA Summernationals at Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kan.

Beckman used a quicker reaction time to edge Capps in the final round, finishing in 4.158 seconds at 303.09 mph in a Dodge Charger. Capps had a run of 4.107 at 304.39.

David Grubnic won the Top Fuel division, and Allen Johnson topped the Pro Stock field.