INDIANAPOLIS — The Honda’s are the class of the NTT INDYCAR Series field right now in terms of pace for the pole for next Sunday’s 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 (1 p.m. ET, NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network). But, the great equalizer in Saturday’s first day of qualifications may just be the draw for the qualifying order.

See, temperatures are going to soar into the upper 80s by time the afternoon hits here in Indianapolis. But, the start of qualifying is at 11 a.m. ET.

With the track heating up as the sun bakes it, we saw the speeds went down on Fast Friday. I expect the same to happen on Saturday.

So, for the guys qualifying early in the order, they could have won the lucky lottery ticket.

It’s forecasted to be in the upper 70s at the time we start qualifications. A few hours later, the ambient temps will rise to the mid 80s. Forget about gaining speed at that time.

“If you have an early qualifying draw, you’re going to make the top nine,” Graham Rahal said on Friday. “If you have an afternoon one like we had last year, you’re going to be hard-pressed to get in no matter how quick or how good you are. The morning draws are going to be huge right now.”

Well, he got himself a morning draw. Rahal, rolls off first. He was third fastest (231.057 mph) of the day on the four lap average chart on Fast Friday.

Heck, his entire organization may be the ones to beat now. All three RLL drivers will qualify in the top 10.

2017 Indy 500 champion Takuma Sato will qualify one spot behind Rahal in second. He was seventh (230.057 mph) on the four lap average chart.

Spencer Pigot had the ninth best no tow lap and is an underrated qualifier here. He started sixth in 2018 and on the front row (3rd) last year. He rolls out of pit lane seventh.

On the flip side, Andretti Autosport was the ones most hurt by the draw. The pole is theirs to lose as they haven’t won an Indy 500 pole since 2005. But, their seven drivers drew 5-12-14-15-20-28-30.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was quickest in the no tow and on the four lap average but he’d qualifying 14th. Alexander Rossi was third on the no tows and comes off 12th.

“The 28 DHL car was really hooked up this morning,” Hunter-Reay said. “Unfortunately, two different racetracks from a.m. and p.m . I think the car has speed in it, but just lacked a little bit of balance later in the day. Hopefully, we can get some front grip in it for tomorrow.”

James Hinchcliffe looks fast but he’s way back in 20th. Colton Herta is fearless and put down a good run in the heat of the day, but he’s 30th out of 33.

Marco Andretti turned the fastest practice lap (233.491 mph) since 1996 and has been in the top three of all three practice sessions this far, but he’s back in 28th.

“We have the speed for the top nine, but we have to hope we’re not sliding too much,” Andretti said. “In the middle of the day, the heat of the day, we put together a really solid four laps. That is the heat of the day, right? That’s the positive to take into tomorrow, that if it is going to be hot, we already did that today.”

Penske could get helped by this. They’ve struggled for speed on Friday but defending series champion Josef Newgarden rolls off ninth with Will Power coming from 10th.

“The first run really counts,” Power said. “If you drew in the first top 10, you’re in pretty good shape, especially for us who are just trying to crack into the top nine. I was really happy about that.”

Power, has won 58 career Indy Car poles, most among all active drivers and trails Mario Andretti by nine for most ever.

He’s made the Fast Nine every year here since 2009 too. He said during practice that the felt a Fast Nine May be unreachable.

“I don’t think we have that ultimate speed of some of the Honda cars,” said Power. “We have a consistent car. Yeah, it wasn’t massive changes, nothing that would change the speed of the car. If anything we did things that would slow it down as far as adding some more downforce.

“It’s just going to be real interesting tomorrow when everyone is in the same condition with no cars on track, no tow, to see where we truly do stack up. My feeling is that we’ll be lucky to get in the top nine. That’s how I feel. I think there’s just a lot of fast cars out there right now.”

His teammate in Newgarden agreed.

“We got to be realistic in looking at our speeds from a no-tow, pure lap pace,” Newgarden said “I think a top 10 is going to be a fight, but we’re going to fight with the Shell car.

“I think we still have a good opportunity to show well tomorrow and fight to get in the last part of the Fast Nine. I think a pole run will be tough for us, but we have to put ourselves as far forward as possible.

“I think we’ve got what it takes to have a solid performance tomorrow, and like I said, put ourselves in good position for the race.”

The saving grace is this draw. Plus, Chevy needs to hope they minimize the fall off over the course of the run. Power says they do feel like they’re better than the Honda’s in that aspect but just how big is that first lap for the Honda’s in comparison to the Chevys?

“I think the only thing on our side is maybe we can hold a lap time longer,” Power said. “That’s the saving grace.”

Ed Carpenter has started on the front row for three straight years now. His draw wasn’t good either. But, he says the biggest factor on Saturday is the fourth and final lap.

“One thing I do know, conditions are going to be tough tomorrow,” said the three time pole winner here. “I saw a lot of people struggling today, and it’s definitely going to come down to the fourth lap. I’m going to rely on my experience and hopefully put us in a pretty good spot, knowing that we still do have a good racecar.”

Carpenter’s former teammate JR Hildebrand noted that with how Fast Friday looked and there being similar conditions on Saturday, expect qualifying to look similar.

“Conditions deteriorated as the day went on,” Hildebrand said. “But it’s the same for everyone, and Saturday looks to be similar weather. Looks like Honda rolled out a pretty good unit for qualifying. I still feel really good about our race pace right now. I know Chevy will do everything they can overnight, but it looks like the Honda cars might have a bit of an edge right now. From our perspective, I feel very good about how the team has worked together. Sage (Karam) and I have been communicating well, too. We haven’t found the ‘sweet’ spot for qualifying , and we’ll try some things in the morning. It will be tough for everyone, and I will try to stick the best number I can when it’s my turn.”

The RLL trio, Scott Dixon, Jack Harvey and half of the Penske foursome may be sitting good by midday. The goal is just the Fast Nine on Saturday. It’s going to be hard to break into that as the day goes on.