Starting Grid: Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300

Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay earned his second pole position of the season by setting a track-record lap of 1:20.4312 during the third round of qualifying of the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300. (AP/Andre Penner)

Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay earned his second pole position of the season by setting a track-record lap of 1:20.4312 during the third round of qualifying of the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300.

Following last year’s IndyCar champ in the second position on Sunday will be his Andretti teammate E.J. Viso. The second placing is a career high for the Venezuelan diver and he accomplished it with a time of 1:20.7380.

Last race’s P1 winner, Dario Franchitti, was the third highest qualifier this time around clocking in at 1:20.8922.

James Hinchcliffe of Oakville, Ont., was sixth in qualifying (1:20.9893) while Montreal’s Alex Tagliani was 15th (1:21.8636).

Watch the Sao Paulo Indy 300 Sunday on Sportsnet ONE at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT

Track Info

The 2.536, 11-turn temporary street circuit incorporates the Sambadrome parade ground as the frontstretch, a surface that’s particularly challenging as it’s the only section of the circuit that’s concrete.

There’s a long stretch that heads into the final right-hand corner, requiring hard braking and offers drivers plentiful overtaking opportunities.

Virtual lap

Qualification for the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300
Pos. Driver Team (Engine) Best Time
1. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport (Chevrolet) 1:20.4312
2. E.J. Viso Team Venezuela/Andretti Autosport/HVM (Chevrolet) 1:20.7380
3. Dario Franchitti Target Chip Ganassi Racing (Honda) 1:20.8922
4. Tony Kanaan KV Racing Technology (Chevrolet) 1:20.9812
5. James Hinchcliffe Andretti Autosport (Chevrolet) 1:20.9893
6. Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing (Honda) 1:21.1183
7. Sebastien Bourdais KV Racing Technology (Chevrolet) 1:20.8210
8. Simona de Silvestro KV Racing Technology (Chevrolet) 1:20.9390
9. Justin Wilson Dale Coyne Racing (Honda) 1:21.0570
10. Marco Andretti Andretti Autosport (Chevrolet) 1:21.1716
11. J.R. Hildebrand Panther Racing (Chevrolet) 1:21.2961
12. Takuma Sato A.J. Foyt Racing (Honda) 1:21.3618
13. Oriol Servia Panther/DRR (Chevrolet) 1:21.7963
14. Ed Carpenter Ed Carpenter Racing (Chevrolet) 1:24.0203
15. Alex Tagliani Barracuda Racing (Honda) 1:21.8636
16. Ana Beatriz Dale Coyne Racing (Honda) 1:24.8864
17. Charlie Kimball Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing (Honda) 1:22.2482
18. Helio Castroneves Team Penske (Chevrolet) 1:25.1734
19. Graham Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan (Honda) 1:22.2998
20. Sebastien Saavedra Dragon Racing (Chevrolet) 4:00.2612
21. Tristan Vautier (R) Schmidt Peterson Motorsports 3:20.5417
22. Will Power Team Penske (Chevrolet) 4:05.5886
23. Josef Newgarden Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (Honda) No Time
24. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports (Honda) 4:23.1097
25. James Jakes Rahal Letterman Lanigan (Honda) No Time

NOTE: Qualification results do not reflect grid penalties.

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