Cunningham wins pole for Firestone Freedom 100

INDIANAPOLIS - Wade Cunningham won the pole for the Firestone Freedom 100 Firestone Indy Lights race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, marking the second time the 2005 series champion will start the race from the inside of Row 1.

The Firestone Firehawk and Firestone Freedom 100 pole winner Wade Cunningham Credit: Jim Haines/Indy Lights

Cunningham also started from the pole in 2006 when he led every lap.

Cunningham recorded a two-lap qualifying time of 1 minute, 34.6485 seconds, an average of 190.177 mph in the No. 11 Lucas Oil/Sam Schmidt Motorsports car, setting an event qualifying record. He bettered Jaime Camara's 2005 qualifying effort of 189.870 mph.

Sebastian Saavedra qualified second at 190.023 mph, recording his third front-row start of the season.

J.R. Hildebrand and Ana Beatriz will start in Row 2, and Martin Plowman and 2006 series champion Jay Howard will start in Row 3.

The 40-lap, 100-mile race is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (ET) Friday. The 33 drivers in the Indianapolis 500 also will have their final practice before Sunday's race.

WADE CUNNINGHAM (No. 11 Lucas Oil/Sam Schmidt Motorsports, qualified first): "It's great. We were sitting here in line, 19th to go out, and Sebastian (Saavedra) pops that 47.25 up on the board, 190.4, I think. That's a good time running by yourself. We were only running marginally quicker than that this morning at 9 with the cool ambient temperatures and a cold track. So I dug deep, and the car was great. I can't complain. The changes that were made from second practice to qualifying obviously worked. We didn't do the quickest lap time, but we were more consistent on the second lap." (On the Firestone Freedom 100): "It's a long race. Forty laps, and anything can happen. In 2006, it went green for 40 laps, and that is a completely different race than what is was last year where we had the 10-lap shootout at the end. You just have to work hard and have the best car you can and take the conditions as they come. You never have a perfect car and when you do, you win. So it's not often that happens, and you have to battle through the day. We'll just see how tomorrow comes. I love Indianapolis. I love oval racing. To be back full time this year with Sam Schmidt, who has great oval success, and obviously we showed it in qualifying trim. We were able to put our foot down and put the car up on top. It's pretty awesome, really."

SEBASTIAN SAAVEDRA (No. 27 Automatic Fires Sprinklers, Inc., second): "It feels wonderful. The whole AFS/AGR Racing team has done an awesome job putting the car together. I think we're looking forward to the race. The points are important. The championship is important. We have a very strong car for this weekend. We'll try to do our best. It's unbelievable (racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway). During the first five laps, I was like, 'Where are you?' It's a historic race. It's a historic racetrack. And here I am. It's a lot of feelings. It's happiness and nervousness. I am very happy to be here. It's wonderful and more to be on such an incredible team, and we will try our best to try and search for a championship and win here for this race. I'd like to have the second one in the belt."

J.R. HILDEBRAND (No. 26 ARPRO, third): "It felt pretty good. It's a little bit frustrating. I think we had a pretty good shot at the pole. It's just really close with my teammate here, Sebastian. I think everybody here is going to be a little bit bummed that we didn't get it. The two of us are quite fast. I know we've got a really good race car for tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the race."

ANA BEATRIZ (No. 20 Healthy Choice/Sam Schmidt Mtrspts, fourth): "I felt pretty good. I think our second lap was a little bit slower than what we expected. It's so bad to qualify first because you have no test of what people are doing. It's always special to come back to Indy. It's such a magic environment with all of the fans. Indianapolis is all about the Indy 500, so it's a great environment, and I am really excited about the race. It's good to have the team behind you taking photos. I am hoping to be in an IndyCar (Series car) next year. Track conditions are pretty good. It's really hot here in Indy, so we were a little bit slower than we expected to be. It's equal for everybody. It wasn't that windy."

MARTIN PLOWMAN (No. 15 Panther Racing, fifth): "It was exciting. I love this qualifying format for the ovals. It's just one big adrenaline rush. I felt that first lap and a half of qualifying I did the best I could have done, but I made a small mistake on my second lap. It's just one of those things. We're still reasonably pleased, I think. Tomorrow is just a really big race, and we've got a strong car for the race, so we'll see some action tomorrow. (The Speedway) is everything that everyone describes of it. It's awe-inspiring. It's what dreams are made of, and it's what everyone dreams of as a young boy. The first time I drove around this place was just indescribable. It's pretty intimidating the first time you go out there, but once you get confident in yourself and the car out there, it's just a joy to race on."

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