Where does the time go? Here we are less than 24hrs away from crowning the champion, the summer and the season soon to be but a memory until 2017.
This afternoon's qualifying session for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma set the stage for what will surely be an epic battle right up until the checkers wave.

The one that made the most of the situation? Current points leader Simon Pagenaud, who left zero doubt that he wants this championship, that's he's earned this championship, and that he deserves this championship.

Here's how the day unfolded...

Round 1 - Group 1:
22 Simon Pagenaud
2 Juan Pablo Montoya
11 Sebastien Bourdais
21 Josef Newgarden
12 Will Power
83 Charlie Kimball
10 Tony Kanaan
14 Takuma Sato
41 Jack Hawksworth
20 Spencer Pigot
18 Conor Daly


No real surprises with this group, other than Power being so far down the list. (not that it matters as the times are wiped)

Biggest Winner: Probably Bourdais who didn't get a testing opportunity on this track coming into the weekend.

Biggest Loser: it's a toss up between Kanaan, who was bested by his "B" team teammate, and the Foyt duo of Sato and Hawksworth, who will start near the back of the pack.

Round 1 - Group 2:
28 Ryan Hunter-Reay
3 Helio Castroneves
7 Mikhail Aleshin
15 Graham Rahal
98 Alexander Rossi
9 Scott Dixon
27 Marco Andretti
26 Carlos Munoz
8 Max Chilton
5 James Hinchcliffe
19 RC Enerson

This group was pretty evenly "stacked" potential wise, but you've got to feel for the Andretti crew, who ended up with all four cars in the same group, which usually means someone will be on the outside looking in.

Biggest Winner: Aleshin, who was struggling not only with his car but with his health over the last day, battling a loose car, and a 104 fever.

Biggest Loser: Marco Andretti, who was fastest on the overall practice chart, but just couldn't squeak into the next round, missing it by a whisper.

Round 2
22 Simon Pagenaud
15 Graham Rahal
3 Helio Castroneves
12 Will Power
2 Juan Pablo Montoya
28 Ryan Hunter-Reay
9 Scott Dixon
98 Alexander Rossi
11 Sebastien Bourdais
21 Josef Newgarden
7 Mikhail Aleshin
83 Charlie Kimball


Biggest Winner: Team Penske. At one point they were 1,2, 3, 4. But Rahal (Honorable mention) broke up the party at the top.

Biggest Loser: Dixon, who just couldn't hold on to a spot in fast six. Though, considering the team scrambled to do a complete brake replacement between rounds, he could also be considered a "winner" for even getting out on track to lay down some fast laps.

Firestone Fast 6
22 Simon Pagenaud
3 Helio Castroneves
2 Juan Pablo Montoya
12 Will Power
15 Graham Rahal
28 Ryan Hunter-Reay

It was clear from the get go that it was going to be a Penske on the top of the timing charts when this session ended, but until the very last lap, it was unclear just which one, as they traded the top spot back and forth. Castroneves was looking like the clear winner, even laying down a second blistering lap on stcker reds, but when the checkers waved it was current points leader Pagenaud, capturing another valuable point, pushing the gap to 44 points, and hoisting the P1 award.

With the entire Penske line up leading the pack, one would think the Captain will be giving the boys stern talking to tonight, so we don't see a repeat of the silliness that cost them the championship last year.

*quotes to follow*

Sonoma Raceway