IndyCar

JR Hildebrand: “It’s a place I think we can compete and win the race from”

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JR Hildebrand secured sixth place on the grid at IMS on Sunday - Credit: Walter Kuhn / IndyCar

JR Hildebrand secured his best starting position around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday when he qualified sixth, and he was delighted to see both of the Ed Carpenter Racing-Chevrolets inside that top six on the grid.

The twenty-nine-year-old American believes that with a stronger final lap he could have qualified a couple of places higher up the grid, but his sixth place starting spot betters his previous best of ninth, which he achieved in 2014.

Hildebrand knows that qualifying around the 2.5-mile oval is not that important, but despite this he is delighted to be towards the front of the field.

“Our run was good! I felt like we got almost as much out of it as we could,” said Hildebrand. “I’m very happy for the ECR guys to be running the Preferred Freezer Services car again this year.

“It’s our best starting position this year in what has been a challenging couple of days. I’m also excited for the team to be able to put two cars in the top six.

“Personally, we could have been a spot or two better with a better fourth lap, but we’re starting on the outside of the second row and it’s a place I think we can compete and win the race from.

“I’m really looking forward to the race –the statistics say today doesn’t really matter, but it’s always nice to be up towards the front.”

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