By Andrew Cutler
May 11 2009

The middle 1/3 of the starting grid for the 93rd Indianapolis 500 was filled on Sunday, which was as cool, but nowhere near as windy, as Pole Day. Day Two saw AGR driver Hideki Mutoh (the only member of one of the three traditional "powerhouse" squads who missed the cut on Saturday), one rookie and a couple of the "one off" drivers among those who made the show.

Rookie Raphael Matos posted the best time of the day in his U.S. Air Force-sponsored #2 Luczo-Dragon machine with a four lap average of 223.429. Had he posted this mark on Saturday, it would have been good enough for the 7th starting spot!

After having his Saturday attempt disqualified over a rules infraction, Justin Wilson got back into the field in 15th spot. Dan Wheldon, who wrecked on Saturday before making a qualifying attempt, also stuck his car in the show in convincing fashion.

The big drama of the day came from "one-off" driver Scott Sharp, who was bumped from the field twice during the course of the afternoon, only to make the last - & his third - run of the session. Sharp found the extra 1 mph that kept eluding him during his prior attempts, and put himself solidly into the 20th grid spot.

The "victim" of Sharp's last-minute run was EJ Viso, who now will have to come back next weekend and try for one of the eleven remaining spots. Also breifly in but eventually bumped out today were Milka Duno and "one-off" driver John Andretti.

Here is the starting grid as of 6pm on Sunday, 5/10: http://www.indy500.com/grid

There will be no further practice for the drivers until Thursday & Friday, with Day Three qualifications scheduled for Saturday & "Bump Day" quals on Sunday.