Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the 10 biggest moments of 2024 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31.
Graham Rahal was the lone participant bumped from the 2023 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. A shock return to the Last Chance Qualifying left Rahal on the qualifying bubble for a second consecutive year.
As shocking as it was to see Rahal in the hour-long final session in efforts to make the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, it was equally as surprising to witness 2022 race winner and 2023 runner-up Marcus Ericsson among four drivers attempting to make the final three spots in session allowing unlimited four-lap qualifying attempts.
Ericsson suffered a practice crash in Turn 4 of the Thursday practice session leading into PPG Armed Forced Qualifying Weekend, and he qualified in a backup car from his Andretti Global team. Also that day, rookie Nolan Siegel found the Turn 2 SAFER Barrier, also forcing him into the last-ditch session.
Katherine Legge joined the trio in the final round.
Siegel went first and traveled faster than any laps he turned during practice with a four-lap average of 229.566 mph. Rahal was next, going 230.685. Ericsson was on a run quicker than both but slowed on his fourth and final lap of the initial attempt thinking it was Lap 4. That potentially cost him a spot in the race. Legge was the final qualifier to make the first attempt, at 230.092.
Leading into the final half-hour, the order was Legge, Rahal and Siegel, with Ericsson out.
After letting his car cool, a final dash in the closing minutes propelled Ericsson into the field of 33, leaving him 32nd with a four-lap average of 230.027, one spot behind Legge.
That thrust Rahal onto the bubble.
Siegel, in a backup car after crashing on Fast Friday, sped out of pit road as the final qualifier. Rahal had to wait in agony to see if he’d get bumped yet again.
The agony didn’t last long. Rookie Siegel failed to qualify after crashing in the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda on the final attempt of the session. He was unhurt.
“Took a swing at it to try and find a half mile an hour to get to where Graham was at,” Siegel said. “I was going to go home because I went flat and did everything I could do. I wasn't going to go home because I lifted, so here I am.”
The Last Chance Qualifying session delivered another year of 60 minutes’ worth of agony for the drivers but excitement for the fans.
