Jack Hawksworth was left to reflect on a difficult qualifying session on Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the British racer qualified thirty-first, and the inside of the back row for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The AJ Foyt Racing driver has not shown good speed throughout the month of May so far, and struggled again on Sunday, with higher track temperatures causing him to struggle with grip levels, meaning a four-lap average of 224.596mph, ahead only of Buddy Lazier and Alex Tagliani, the latter crashing during his own qualifying run.
Hawksworth will now have a day of practice on Monday and an hour later in the week on Carb day to get the car ready for next Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.
“The conditions were hotter than expected so the tires fell off,” revealed Hawksworth after his qualifying run. “Like yesterday, we had consistent 225 mph speeds, but the rear tires fell off. I kept getting more loose throughout the run.
“The speed is still not there. We’re still struggling for outright speed and, in the end of the run, the tires fell off and we were not quick enough. The tire degradation was the biggest problem and what made the cookie crumble.”
