Tony Schumacher laid down a 4.510-second pass at 328.38 mph in the second session to climb to the provisional pole position. The fact he was carrying a little extra weight didn’t bother him in the least.

In fact, the extra weight made all the difference in the world. Tony Schumacher laid down a 4.510-second pass at 328.38 mph in the second session to climb to the provisional pole position. The fact he was carrying a little extra weight didn’t bother him in the least.

In fact, the extra weight made all the difference in the world.

“That pass was especially pleasing to me since I was carrying in my driver’s suit a Medal of Honor from a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran,” said Schumacher. “Staff Sergeant Jon Cavaini is one of only 150 still living with a Medal of Honor. I was thrilled to be able to do that for him.”

Schumacher will have two more qualifying sessions on Saturday to see if he can also clinch his sixth career pole in Vegas.

“I love this place,” he said. “I think every driver considers this facility as one of the very best that we go to on the tour.”