For the second consecutive day, rain at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway prevented Pole Day qualifying from taking place, pushing all qualifying for the 90th running of the Indianapolis 500 to next weekend (May 20-21).

After a morning rain delay, pre-qualifying practice did get underway at 1:20 pm EDT, with half the field able to run a full 30-minute session under partly-cloudy skies. But the rain returned soon after the second half of the split-session practice began, ending on-track activities for the day.

Weather permitting, qualifying now will start next Saturday at noon EDT, with all 33 starting positions – the first Indy 500 with Honda as the sole engine supplier – up for grabs. Additional qualifying, to fill the field, if necessary, followed by attempts to “bump” slower cars out of the field, will take place on Sunday.

Robert Clarke (President, Honda Performance Development) on qualifying all 33 cars next weekend: “It will be the first time HPD has had 33 cars – or more – on the track at the same time, but we’re ready and prepared for it. We could conceivably put 33 cars in the race in a single day, and have bumping the next day. Assuming good weather, it should be a very exciting show for the fans, and I’m looking forward to it.”