2012 Indy 500: Fast Nine Field Set

It’s Pole Day at Indy, which means that qualifications for next week’s Indy 500 have started, and the Fast Nine -- which will determine the top nine starters in the event -- is set.

Here are the racers who will compete in the shootout later today and their qualifying times:

1) James Hinchcliffe, 225.746 mph
2) Will Power, 225.399 mph
3) Ryan Hunter-Reay, 225.289 mph
4) Helio Castroneves, 225.282 mph
5) Ryan Briscoe, 225.078 mph
6) Tony Kanaan, 224.751 mph
7) Marco Andretti, 224.680 mph
8) Josef Newgarden, 224.677 mph
9) E.J. Viso, 224.422 mph

While the rest of the field continues to compete to merely qualify, these guys have their ticket to next week’s event stamped and will start in the front nine. Later, they’ll do more qualifying laps as part of the Fast Nine qualifying, which will take place at 4:30 Eastern. Each of the nine racers will do another qualifying run with their times determining their starting place in the actual race.

Kanaan was in third after his first run, but a post-run inspection caused that run to be disqualified. However, his second run was good enough to put him in as he finished in sixth.

For more updates on the Indy 500, stay tuned to this StoryStream. For more on Indy racing including the 2012 Indianapolis 500, please visit Pop Off Valve.