Led by Andretti Green Racing’s Tony Kanaan, Honda drivers once again prevailed in Pole Day qualifying for the 89th running of the Indianapolis 500, with the defending IndyCar Series champion claiming his first '500' pole in his fourth attempt. In previous appearances at Indianapolis, Kanaan qualified fifth in both 2002 and 2004, and second in 2003. Scott Sharp of Delphi Fernandez Racing made it two Hondas on the first row by qualifying third, his first front-row Indy start since qualifying on the pole in 2001.

After a day's delay due to rain, Sharp was the first one to make a run when qualifying began on Sunday.His four-lap average speed of 227.126 would be good enough for third. Kanaan was the third driver to qualify, then had to wait throughout the afternoon as driver after driver took his or her shot at his speed of 227.566, only to come up short of the mark.