IndyCar cancels qualifying in New Orleans

An electrical storm has forced IndyCar to abandon qualifying for the maiden round at the NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans.

After a one hour delay, Group 1 was finally brought to life under threatening skies with Group 2 following shortly afterwards.

However the second Group was cut short in the closing minutes after lightning strikes near the circuit.

With qualifying incomplete, officials have decided to set the grid based on team owner points.

It will see the front row occupied by Juan Montoya and defending series champion Will Power with Chip Ganassi driver Tony Kanaan on the second row with Helio Castroneves.

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Simon Pagenaud will see the four Team Penske cars in the top five positions.

The remainder of the top 10 sees Sebastien Bourdais start from sixth, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Jack Hawksworth, Luca Filippi and Marco Andretti.

Bourdais (KVSH) had been fastest in Group 1 but was stripped of his two fastest laps for interference with Kanaan which has drawn considerable contention.

Carpenter/Fisher/Hartman Racing driver Josef Newgarden had posted the fastest time in Group 2 before the session was brought to a close.

New Orleans starting grid: Set by owners points

1	Juan Pablo Montoya	Chevrolet
2	Will Power	Chevrolet
3	Tony Kanaan	Chevrolet
4	Helio Castroneves	Chevrolet
5	Simon Pagenaud	Chevrolet
6	Sebastien Bourdais	Chevrolet
7	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Honda
8	Jack Hawksworth	Honda
9	Luca Filippi	Chevrolet
10	Marco Andretti	Honda
11	Graham Rahal	Honda
12	Josef Newgarden	Chevrolet
13	Takuma Sato	Honda
14	Carlos Munoz	Honda
15	Scott Dixon	Chevrolet
16	James Hinchcliffe	Honda
17	Gabby Chaves (R)	Honda
18	Simona De Silvestro	Honda
19	Sage Karam (R)	Chevrolet
20	Stefano Coletti (R)	Chevrolet
21	Charlie Kimball	Chevrolet
22	James Jakes	Honda
23	Francesco Dracone (R)	Honda
24	Carlos Huertas	Honda