INDIANAPOLIS, May 16 – There are 22 spots remaining in the field for the Indianapolis 500, but England's Justin Wilson won't be especially satisfied with a starting spot near the rear.

"We still have egos and we still want to qualify as high as we can," said the former Champ Car driver who is a rookie this month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The 29-year-old Wilson, from Woodall, was only the 29th fastest in the final practice session entering the second day of qualifying Saturday. The first 11 cars qualified last Saturday and the field is expected to be filled Saturday before Bump Day on Sunday.

Wilson's top speed of 219.810 miles an hour is a bit deceiving because his No. 02 McDonald's car ran all 62 of its laps Friday in race trim. The car will stripped of some downforce before Saturday's four-lap qualification run.

"We've got a bit more work to do in qualifying trim but we'll just take it one step at a time," Wilson said. "The car was raceable; we were able to sit in peoples' drafts and hang on. When we were doing our race stuff we got behind a few cars and everything seemed pretty good. The McDonald's car was drifting and hanging on well. I was able to run flat out without too much problem."

Although Indianapolis experienced a sunny day following multiple rainy ones, more windy conditions prevailed at the 99-year-old oval.

"The wind was significant, as was the temperature and the air's condition," Wilson said. "It's all a factor; if the air's thinner then you have less downforce and you go quick down the straight line and slow in the corners. It's a fine balance."


Heading into this weekend's qualifications, Will Power of Australia was fastest of the non-qualified drivers with a speed of 223.039 miles an hour. Graham Rahal and John Andretti, both of the United States, were second and third, respectively, on the day's speed chart. Rahal's fast lap was 222.959 mph and Andretti was 222.850.

The 92nd Indianapolis 500 is Sunday, May 25.