INDIANAPOLIS -- Ed Carpenter turned Pole Day into a family celebration. Bob Probert Jersey . The stepson of IndyCar founder Tony George became the first member of the Hulman family to win the biggest pre-race event in the series -- the Indianapolis 500 pole. Carpenter produced a stunning finish to a day that was rife with suspense but lacked surprise. His four-lap average of 228.762 mph was quick enough to break up what appeared to be a Team Penske-Andretti Autosport lock on the front three rows in the nine-car shootout for the pole. Somehow, Carpenter, who owns his team, beat out the big-name guys. "To be a single-car team in this Chevy shootout, I am going to call it fighting with the Penske and Andretti guys," said Carpenter, whose pit crew carried him off pit road on their shoulders after an agonizing wait to see if his time would hold up. The soft-spoken Carpenter grew up around the world-famous 2.5-mile Brickyard, dreaming of the moment he could stand in Victory Lane. Perhaps that will happen May 26. For now, Carpenter will savour the highest-profile achievement of his career and during a month in which he has strengthened his area ties. His sponsor, golfer Fuzzy Zoellers Fuzzys Vodka, is based in Indiana and this week he added decals to his car from his alma mater, Butler University -- the little school that made two straight NCAA championship game appearances. He also took a little time out for his family and friends, who believe this could be his big year at Indy. After producing the fastest lap in the opening practice session last Saturday, Carpenter gave away his tickets to watch the Eastern Conference semifinals between the hometown Pacers and New York Knicks so he could spend some time with his wife before another working Mothers Day. And during Friday nights qualifying draw, Carpenter had one of his young children pull out the number. Then Carpenter went out and beat all those big-name guys to the punch, setting off a celebration that isnt likely to end any time soon. "I felt like coming in that we had a chance to be on the pole," Carpenter said. "To sit on the pole for this race is really a dream come true, and I hope it is a start to what has already been a great month of May. The car has been great and I cant thank my team enough. The sponsors, a lot of great people helped us get here. This is just the first part of what we are here to do." Carpenter was followed by three of Michael Andrettis five drivers -- rookie Carlos Munoz of Colombia, Marco Andretti and Venezuelan E.J. Viso took the next three spots. Munozs average of 228.342 was just a tick better than Marco Andrettis 228.261. "We knew he was a factor, but those laps were really stout," said Andretti, who congratulated Carpenter on pit road. "We didnt see that kind of pace out of him earlier, but he went for a trim and balanced the car, so it rewarded him." Another Indy rookie, A.J. Allmendinger will start fifth, the highest qualifier for Roger Penskes team. James Hinchcliffe of Oakville, Ont., a two-time winner this year in IndyCar, had the ninth fastest time, at 227.493 miles per hour. Alex Tagliani of Lachenaie, Que., , the 2011 pole sitter, qualified 11th in his Honda with a speed of 227.386 mph. Will Power went into the shootout as the favourite after going 228.844 but wound starting sixth, the outside of Row 2 after slowing to 227.246 mph on the final run of the day. It was yet another frustrating moment for Power, who thought he might eclipse 230 after his early afternoon run. That came just 48 hours after Power seemed resigned to not even be in pole contention. But racing has not always been good to Power. Despite winning 21 poles and 14 races from 2010-12, Power finished second in the points to Scotsman Dario Franchitti all three years. Indy has followed the same trend line. In five previous starts on the 2.5-mile oval, Power has only started on the front row once -- when he started second in 2010 when he was overshadowed by his pole-winning teammate, Helio Castroneves. Power has never finished better than fifth on race day even though he completed 799 of 800 laps in his first four starts. Last year, he went out in a crash after 78 laps. The teams dramatic improvement over the previous 48 hours had some thinking that Penske would extend his own record by winning an 18th pole. Others expected Andretti to top the list. Carpenter never bought into it. "Thats an accomplishment in itself. For this team to put in the hard work to give me what I needed to put it on the pole is great. I think a whole lot of prayers went into this day." There werent many surprises. Each of the nine drivers in the shootout were powered by the strong Chevrolet engines. That left the Honda teams, including all four drivers for Chip Ganassis heavyweight team -- Australian Ryan Briscoe, New Zealands Scott Dixon, Scotlands Dario Franchitti and Charlie Kimball -- out of the front three rows. Franchitti, like Castroneves, is trying to become the fourth member of the four-time winners club and will start from the middle of the sixth row, 17th, after going 226.069. Also out of pole contention was points leader Takuma Sato of Japan. He posted a four-lap average of 225.892 and will start 18th, the outside of Row 6. Eight drivers qualified but were later bumped out of the top 24 starting spots. Jakes and Briscoe were the only ones to make it back in. The list of drivers still trying to make the field includes 1996 Indy winner Buddy Lazier, British driver Pippa Mann, who hasnt raced since suffering injuries in the tragic season-ending race at Las Vegas in 2011 and Brazils Ana Beatriz. Mann and Beatriz, who drive for Dale Coyne Racing, are trying to become the first female teammates to start the 500. Two drivers, Conor Daly and Michel Jourdain Jr., werent quick enough to even qualify for the 33-car starting field and James Jakes first qualifying attempt was later disqualified after failing post-qualifying inspection. Jakes tried to re-qualify two more times, finally making it into the 24th spot late in the day. The final nine starting spots will be filled during the second and final day of qualifications Sunday -- a day Britains Katherine Legge is expected to complete her first laps since being hired by Schmidt Peterson Motorsports to drive the No. 81 car. The late addition gives race organizers 34 driver-car combinations, meaning one driver wont start May 26. And now Carpenter will be leading them into the first turn. Matt Murray Jersey .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Ron Francis Jersey . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. http://www.officialhockeyproshop.com/Toronto-Maple-Leafs-Kris-Versteeg-Jersey/ . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. MINNEAPOLIS -- Nate Mason had 15 points and seven assists, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers had five players score in double figures in an 86-74 victory on Friday against Louisiana-Lafayette.Dupree McBrayer added 15 points for Minnesota, which made 10 3-pointers and shot 40 percent from long distance. Amir Coffey, part of a three-guard starting unit with Mason and McBrayer, scored 13 points.We have a more complete team, Gophers coach Richard Pitino said. I think thats very, very evident when you look at our guys. Its got a lot of balance. Theyre good kids, they want to win. They want to get people talking good about them. Hopefully tonight helped that.Bryce Washington scored 16 points and had 10 rebounds for the Ragin Cajuns, who couldnt stay with the Gophers while shooting 31.9 percent from the field.Minnesota committed 19 turnovers to 15 for Louisiana-Lafayette and was outrebounded 42-39, but the Gophers were helped with an efficient shooting attack from the outside to lead by as many as 27 in the game.The Cajuns closed to 11 near the end of the first half, but Minnesota scored the final 11 points of the half, including a buzzer-beating 3 by Mason.You can see from all the new guys that they bring a different dimension to the team. Mason said. Once we get comfortable in the season, I feel like these guys are going to produce.BIG PICTURELouisiana-Lafayette: Trying to replace 66.2 percent of their scoring last season, the opener against a Big Ten opponent was unkind to the Cajuns. They shot just 27.5 percent from the field and were just 5 of 17 from 3 (29.4 percent) in the first half. Washington, one of the three returning starters, didnt attempt a field goal in the first half. Freshman Justin Miller came off the bench to score 21 points.Minnesota: The Gophers had a balanced effort as they try to discover their core this season withh several new players joining coach Richard Pitinos team. Jamie Benn Jersey. Coffey was the Minnesota Mr. Basketball last season. Center Reggie Lynch finally played his first game with the Gophers after transferring from Illinois State last season. Akeem Springs, a transfer from Milwaukee, had 11 points and hit three 3s off the bench.HIGH ON COFFEYCoffey made his much-anticipated debut. Minnesotas Mr. Basketball last season, the freshman was 3 of 5 shooting and 2 of 3 from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-8, 195-pound guard had three assists and four turnovers. But just one turnover came in the second half.I think he just adds a very difficult dimension for teams from a defensive side of it, from how they want to guard him, because hes so tall and hes such a skilled passer, and he really moves well, Pitino said.GETTING EXPOSURELouisiana-Lafayette was also breaking in several new players. To end the second half, the Cajuns had three freshmen and two redshirt freshmen on the court.Weve just got some growing pains that were going to have to fight through, especially with the foul trouble, Marlin said. We couldnt make 3s and just struggled first time out for a lot of these kids.After 12 turnovers in the first half, Louisiana-Lafayette had just three in the second half. The Cajuns also posted 20 offensive rebounds.UP NEXTLouisiana-Lafayettes inexperienced roster will get used to playing on the road. The Cajuns start the season with two road games for the first time since the 2011-12 season when they play at Montana State on Nov. 14.Minnesotas home-heavy schedule against smaller schools continues Nov. 14 against Texas-Arlington. In all, the Gophers play their first six games at home and 12 of the first 14 at Williams Arena. Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
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