Nascar

Hinchcliffe takes top seed in Indy qualifying with late push

Associated Press
Published | Updated

James Hinchcliffe, right, of Canada, celebrates with a crew member after he qualified on the opening day of qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (The Associated Press)

Will Power, of Australia, drives the the first turn during a practice session on the opening day of qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (The Associated Press)

Townsend Bell walks with his car through the line to qualify on the opening day of qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, May 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (The Associated Press)

James Hinchcliffe posted the fastest four-lap average in Indianapolis 500 qualifying Saturday to take the top seed into the pole shootout Sunday.

The Canadian driver for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports hung on after moving past three-time race winner Helio Castroneves in the final 40 minutes. Hinchcliffe finished at 230.946 mph.

Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy winner, moved into second on the second-to-last run of the day at 230.805. Team Penske's Will Power was third at 230.736, and Castroneves fourth at 230.500.

All 33 starting positions will be set Sunday. The nine fastest from Saturday advanced to the shootout.

Weather changes made for a wild day on the 2.5-mile oval, with the lead switching hands twice in the final 45 minutes and bumping for the shootout taking place until the session's final run.