Filippi Will Start 9th, Newgarden To Start 12th

(AVONDALE, La.) April 11, 2015 – Qualifying Notes

– Today’s qualifications for the inaugural Grand Prix of Louisiana were cancelled due to inclement weather.

– Heavy rain delayed the start of qualifications, but cars were eventually able to get on track on the 2.74-mile, 13-turn road course. Group 1 was able to complete their 10 minute session; Group 2, which included CFH drivers Josef Newgarden and Luca Filippi, was red flagged due to lightning.

– Newgarden had set the fastest lap of Group 2 when the red flag came out. While officials let the clock run out and issued a checkered flag, lap times were thrown out upon the cancellation of the remainder of the session.

– Verizon IndyCar Series rules state that when qualifications are cancelled, the field is set based on entrant points.

– Based on current point standings, Luca Filippi will start 9th in the No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka Chevrolet.

– Newgarden will start the No. 67 Hartman Oil Chevrolet from the 12th position for tomorrow’s 75-lap event.

– The start of the 2015 Indy Grand Prix of Alabama has been moved up tomorrow. The estimated green flag time is now 1:45 p.m. local and the NBC Sports Network Broadcast will now run from 1:30 – 5 p.m.

JOSEF NEWGARDEN, NO. 67 HARTMAN OIL CHEVROLET, STARTING 12TH: “It’s a shame we couldn’t run the whole session, this is actually a very fun track in the rain. There’s just some drainage issues. It’s a little difficult with the pooling of water in areas, so you get some hydroplaning. I think our car was great. We’ve had good cars here since rolling off the truck and I think they were good in the rain. If it rains tomorrow, we would be alright as we were pretty quick. It’s just a matter if we would be able to make the race work with the drainage. But hopefully we don’t get any rain tomorrow and it just makes it a lot easier on everyone. I think we’re in a good position to try and attack and get a good result tomorrow.”

LUCA FILIPPI, NO. 20 FUZZY’S VODKA CHEVROLET, STARTING 9TH:  “Again, the result of St. Petersburg and starting the season well becomes even more important. Regarding today, I think the right call was to do what they did and cancel the rest of the session. From my point of view we have a good car on the wet, so if tomorrow we have a wet race, I am confident. I am looking forward to having a good