This is Allen Johnson's lowest starting spot since the Winternationals, where he was #10. It's also his lowest starting spot at Indy since 2005. Since 1990 the #8 PS qualifier has only won the opening round nine times at this event. Mark Martino's ninth-place start here equals his best starting position in his part-time, 18-race NHRA career. It's the first time these two have met in eliminations.

Martino's car made a hard move to the left on the launch, out of the groove and sideways. He saved it, but that had to hurt his ET and AJ won going away.