Paul Tracy got stuck in traffic and Bruno Junqueira had mechanical problems.
The result was that Sebastien Bourdais of France edged closer to clinching his first Champ Car title by guaranteeing himself a front-row spot tomorrow's Lexmark Indy 300 after leading Friday's opening qualifying session.
PHOTO: AP
Tracy finished second in the qualifying session after getting blocked on the final laps of the abbreviated session. Junqueira, the closest pursuer to Bourdais' leading season total, had gear sensor problems and only got four laps in during the one-hour session.
Bourdais now needs to finish with seven points more than Junqueira, his Newman/Haas teammate, to win the series championship. Bourdais came into the weekend needing eight, but picked up a point Friday for winning the first qualifying session over the 4.498km temporary street course.
The Friday win also guaranteed Bourdais a front-row spot regardless of times posted in Saturday's second qualifying session.
His time Friday was 1 minute, 34.439 seconds, just over a 10th of a second faster than 1995 winner Tracy, while 2002 Australian champion Mario Dominguez of Mexico was third fastest.
"It's a step in the right direction," Bourdais said. "The track is going to get faster and faster, so having that front row guaranteed is important."
Bourdais won the pole here last year and finished 17th in the rain-shortened race. Friday's qualifying win and the front-row spot extends Bourdais' record of starting in the top three positions in 14 consecutive races.
"I'm happy to have another front row, especially here where you can have troubles at the start," he said. The first-turn chicane has been the scene of numerous accidents shortly after the start in 13 previous races here.
Tracy said he was unlucky not to edge ahead of Bourdais.
"The car feels good, but we didn't seem to have any luck today," Tracy said, frustrated that he had become blocked behind several drivers during the session. "It'll be quicker tomorrow."
Junqueira finished 16th of 19 cars in qualifying.
"We had a problem with a sensor and didn't get many laps in," said Junqueira. "It's a shame because we need to be closer to the front if we're going to challenge."
Canada's Patrick Carpentier hit the wall with three minutes left, forcing a red flag and ending the qualifying session early. Carpentier was in last place after being penalized for causing a premature end to the session and having his fastest lap time taken away.
Last year's winner, American Ryan Hunter Reay, was the fastest through the first 15 minutes of qualifying and before most of the leading drivers came on to the course. He finished sixth.
Two drivers making their Champ Car debuts had mixed results. Australian David Besnard, a former Formula 2000 champion, was 13th but led the qualifiers for a short time. Jarek Janis of the Czech Republic, who is 21, was 17th fastest.
Besnard and Janis will join four other rookies in Sunday's race -- American A.J. Allmendinger, Nelson Philippe of France, who is 18, and Britain's Justin Wilson and Guy Smith.
"It's for sure not the easiest track to start on," Bourdais said of the rookie field.
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