Will Power took a record breaking 68th NTT IndyCar Series pole position ahead of Sunday’s (Sept. 11) Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey.
With the pressure turned up all the way throughout the day, Power was able to capitalize on a difficult session for all four of his title rivals to take the top spot at the last minute, beating out rookie Callum Ilott by only 0.0193 seconds. With the extra point awarded for taking the pole, Power now sits 21 points ahead of Josef Newgarden and Scott Dixon in the championship standings.
“With such a big day tomorrow, I can’t celebrate much because I’ve got to be so focused on tomorrow,” Power told Marty Snider.
“To be up there with an iconic guy like Mario is amazing. When I think about the era he raced in, how dangerous it was, how much more of a risk it was… so, it just blows my mind that I’m there with Mario.”
Mario Andretti made quick work to join the discussion and share the moment with the newly crowned qualifying king.
“I know how much I loved qualifying and I can see that he’s the same,” Mario Andretti said of the Australian after congratulating Power.
“It was coming, and it’s beautiful, it’s great for the series, great for the sport. Records are made to be broken.”
Power’s No. 12 Verizon team opted to go all out in the Firestone Fast Six, leaving their driver time for only two flying laps in his pursuit of pole position. Andretti teammates Alexander Rossi and Romain Grosjean, as well as reigning champion Alex Palou joined Ilott in challenging for the top spot, though Power was not to be denied at the end of the day.
Firestone Fast 12
Championship outsiders McLaughlin and Marcus Ericsson were both eliminated from the Firestone Fast 12 by virtue of driver error.
McLaughlin set the timing charts ablaze early in the session – on the slower Firestone Primary tires nonetheless – but as the speeds rose throughout the session, advancement became far from certain for McLaughlin. The Kiwi’s final shot at the Firestone Fast Six was undermined when he dipped a tire off track on the exit of turn 4, sacrificing a flying lap in the process.
McLaughlin will start in eighth place on Sunday.
Ericsson likewise overstepped the limit on track to find himself on the outside looking in at the Fast Six.
Entering the Corkscrew complex, the Swede went just beyond the breaking point of ambitious braking, losing the rear end on entry and sliding to a stop mid corner. Being as the incident caused…
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