ABC Supply 500 box score

First, Charlie Kimball topped the lap speed chart in the practice preceding qualifications Aug. 22 for the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway. High point.

Then Kimball’s No. 83 NovoLog FlexPen Chevrolet made heavy contact with the SAFER Barrier and catch fencing on his first qualifying lap (video below). Low point.

The Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing crew diligently prepped the back-up car and installed a fresh engine, and though Kimball started on the back row for the 200-lap race on the 2.5-mile triangular oval at least he was able to make his 83rd Indy car start. Push.

On Lap 85, Kimball ran out of room to avoid the No. 41 AJ Foyt Racing entry, which had spun in Turn 3. Kimball was able to drive away from the scene, and the crew replaced the front wing assembly. Another push.

On alternate strategy, he led Lap 135. High point.

He retired after completing 193 laps because of a mechanical issue, but was credited with 12th place. Relief.

“I just have to start off by giving a lot of credit to the mechanics, the engineers and just the whole team at Chip Ganassi Racing for getting me back on-track after my crash,” Kimball said. “The back-up car was really good, especially considering that I hadn’t really done a full lap with the back-up car and the back-up engine. The car was just really good and allowed me to go racing right when I felt comfortable.

“It took me a little while to find my feet out there, but when I did the NovoLog FlexPen car was there. It was unfortunate that we had the incident mid-race that hindered us a little, but we’ll be able to look at that now and learn from it. After that incident, the car was just never quite right again so we were just safe and tried to take some spots when they came to us.”

Click it: Kimball's unique drink system

Juan Pablo Montoya was the biggest mover in the race, advancing 16 positions in the No. 2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet relative to his qualifying spot to finish third. He has finished in the top 10 in all 11 of his career 500-mile Indy car races, which includes four victories.

Ryan Briscoe, driving the No. 5 Arrow/Lucas Oil Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda, gained 10 positions to finish eighth for the third time in seven races.

“It was a really long race,” Briscoe said. “The No. 5 Arrow Electronics car was pretty good, we just never had quite enough to really get all the way to the front. We had a solid top-10 run and sometimes up to top five but it was just a hard battle all day long.”