Will Power is one of nine drivers in contention to start next week’s Indianapolis 500 from pole position.

The Australian ace was fourth fastest behind fellow Team Penske drivers Helio Castroneves, who topped qualifying speeds on Saturday, and third-placed Simon Pagenaud.

Ed Carpenter was second while Danica Patrick, will be the only woman driver in the field, after she assured herself of a spot in the final race of her career at the famed Brickyard.

The top nine fastest times from Saturday will stage a shootout on Sunday for pole position.

“Great day for @Team_Penske and the @verizon team. Time to focus on Pole Day tomorrow. The #Fast9 is stacked,” Power tweeted.

Brazilian Castroneves, winner in 2001, 2002 and 2009, powered his Penske to a four-lap average speed of 368.41 km/h during a morning run as he prepared to chase a fifth Indy 500 pole.

With 35 cars battling for 33 spots on the starting grid, Bump Day was filled with tension, drama and a one big shock as Canadian James Hinchcliffe failed to qualify.

“It’s devastating in every way possible,” Hinchcliffe, who after a near-fatal crash in qualifying for the 2015 race came back to grab pole in 2016, said.

There was also disappointment for Briton Pippa Mann, who got out ahead of Hinchcliffe for her final shot but could not coax enough speed out of her Dale Coyne Racing Honda to make the field.