So competitive was the race that even Kevin Cogan, the slowest qualifier, was able to lead four laps.
Goodyear is the slowest qualifier, or "man on the bubble," entering the final day of time trials on the 2.5-mile (4km) oval.
Their failures left rookie Bryan Herta the slowest qualifier, who waited nervously until Ribbs failed on the final attempt.
The top riders are seeded in the following rounds, meaning the fastest qualifier will face the slowest qualifier and so on.
The pitlane was isolated from the garage area and pitstalls were allocated to the slowest qualifiers as being on "Gilligan's Island" was a big disadvantage.
His time was 2.08 s behind the slowest qualifier, placing him 16th.
A short rain shower followed, with Robby McGehee sitting on the bubble as the slowest qualifier at 211.631 mph.
Some tracks/series start the fastest qualifiers at the rear of the field and the slowest qualifiers at the front of the field.
Bobby Grim, the slowest qualifier, holds on to the make the field in his front-engined roadster.
During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing he was the slowest qualifier for the 100 m final.