Rinus VeeKay leads speed assault on opening day of qualifying for the 106th Indy 500

INDIANAPOLIS – The opening day of qualifying for the 106th Indy 500 produced speeds unseen in more than a quarter-century at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, setting up a memorable showdown for the pole position.

Before the rain hit Saturday afternoon, rising NTT IndyCar Series stars Rinus VeeKay and Pato O’Ward were the fast two drivers to qualify and led the 12 drivers who advanced to the second round of qualifying Sunday afternoon at the 2.5-mile oval. That session will produce the six fastest drivers for a final round of four-lap runs to determine the pole position for the 106th Indy 500.

NBC coverage will begin on Peacock Premium at 12:30 p.m. ET with a 90-minute practice, and NBC will have the Fast 12 and Fast Six qualifying sessions starting at 4 p.m.

HOW TO WATCH POLE QUALIFYING: Sunday schedule for Peacock and NBC

QUALIFYING SPEEDS, DAY 1: Click here to see the four-lap averages Saturday

If the pace Saturday was any indication, it could be one of the most memorable pole shootouts in recent memory with drivers enjoying a qualifying weekend-only turbo boost that equates to 90 horsepower.

VeeKay’s average of 233.655 mph in the No. 21 Dallara-Chevrolet was the third fastest in Indy 500 qualifying history. It also marked the best four-lap average since fellow Dutchman Arie Luyendyk went 236.986 mph in the second round of qualifying in 1996 (late pole-sitter Scott Brayton had gone 233.718 mph a week earlier).

RETWEET if your favorite NTT @INDYCAR SERIES driver made Sunday's Fast 12 for the #Indy500.@rinusveekay, @PatricioOWard, @FRosenqvist, @AlexPalou, @TonyKanaan, @JimmieJohnson, @edcarpenter20, @Ericsson_Marcus, @RGrosjean, @scottdixon9, @12WillPower and @TakumaSatoRacer are IN! pic.twitter.com/x2yTRn5VMj

— IndyCar on