Last-gasp runs landed John Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay in the 33-car field for the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday as 'Bump Day' qualifying again proved a nerve-wracking affair.

"I'm glad the race isn't tomorrow," said Andretti, who didn't secure his 10th Indianapolis 500 start until his third and last attempt of the day on the famed 2.5-mile (4km) Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.

"I couldn't do it. I don't think I could get in the car. I'm physically, mentally, just totally exhausted," he said.

Andretti and Hunter-Reay, whose successful run was underway when the final qualifying session ended, both had to find more speed after being bumped from the field earlier in the day.

Hunter-Reay bumped Alex Tagliani out as the Canadian rookie sat in his car hoping in vain to get another chance.

"I think Tagliani was pretty fast and we were lucky we went out last," Hunter-Reay said. "I've never been so happy to take last place."

A 33-car field was tentatively set in three earlier days of qualifying, with Brazilian Helio Castroneves capturing pole position on the opening day of time trials last weekend.

Blustery winds in Saturday's penultimate qualifying session meant that day's slowest drivers were vulnerable to being bumped.

Buddy Lazier, the 1996 Indy 500 winner, 2002 pole sitter Bruno Junqueira of Brazil and rookie Stanton Barrett all started the day looking to bump their way into the field.

Junqueira was the only one to make it, with a four-lap average of 355.850km/h.

He bumped Andretti, who had clocked 353.157km/h on Saturday, setting the stage for Andretti's attempt to get back in.

Several already qualified drivers were able to improve their times as they tried to move out of the danger zone ? including South African Tomas Scheckter, England's Mike Conway, Venezuelans E.J. Viso and Milka Duno and France's Nelson Philippe.

All withdrew earlier qualifying times and improved on them.

After waving off one attempt to get back in, Andretti went back out with 20 minutes left and again failed, finally nabbing the 28th starting spot and bumping Hunter-Reay.

Hunter-Reay went out with just two minutes remaining until the signal to end the session.

"That was the hairiest day I've ever had in racing," Hunter-Reay said.