Herbert failed to qualify last weekend and had hoped to make the grid in final qualifying on Sunday.

However, Herbert was also booked to drive in an American Le Mans Series event at Sears Point on Sunday.

Early rain prevented him from posting a qualifying time at Indianapolis.

When attempts to hire a plane to take him to Sears Point failed he had to call it quits in order to catch a flight to California.

"I'm tremendously disappointed not to have the opportunity to put the Western Union car on the starting grid for this year's Indy 500," said Herbert.

"The time-frame to accomplish both feats is just too tight to make work.

"It's been a lifelong ambition to compete at Indy and when I finally get here I'm faced with about the only obstacle that could prevent me from achieving my goal - good old English rain."

Sunday is also the final chance for Britain's other Indy representative, Scot Dario Franchitti, to qualify.

However, the Team Green driver has several years' worth of oval experience and is expected to make the grid.