By Kirby Arnold, Special Contributor
SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Scott McLaughlin led a historic performance by Team Penske on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 with an effort that hadn’t been accomplished in 36 years.
McLaughlin, Will Power and Josef Newgarden swept all three front-row spots for Team Penske, repeating what had only been done once in the history of the race, in 1988 when Penske drivers Rick Mears, Danny Sullivan and Al Unser Sr. qualified 1-2-3.
Running last among six drivers who advanced to the final round of qualifying, McLaughlin posted a record four-lap average of 234.220 mph. In 1988, Mears won the pole with a 219.198 average.
“I knew that going last would be an advantage, and we used it,” McLaughlin said.
He posted the fastest speed of the day on his first lap – 234.526 mph — and followed it with two more above 234 mph before a final lap at 233.816 mph.
“You see the (first-lap) time and then it’s all about executing after that,” McLaughlin said. “Playing with bars and weight jacker, trying to hold onto it.”
Power, IndyCar’s all-time leader with 70 poles, posted a speed of 233.917 mph and climbed from his car hoping it would be fast enough to win his first Indy 500 pole. Moments later, McLaughlin posted his monster first lap.
“As soon as I saw that first lap, I knew it was over,” Power said.
McLaughlin recorded the 19th Indy 500 pole for Team Penske, and the front-row sweep gives team owner Roger Penske a chance for his 20th Indy 500 victory.
“This is what Indianapolis is all about — showcasing the talent of a team as a whole,” Newgarden said. “It’s a badge of pride for everyone at Team Penske.”
It also was a strong recovery for a team that had struggled in qualifying in recent years.
Since Simon Pagenaud won the pole (and the 500) in 2019, the highest-qualified Penske driver in the next four years was Power, 11th in 2022. Newgarden drove to victory from the 17th starting spot last year.
“We’ve been working on this the last four years,” Newgarden said. “When you go that many offseasons combing over every detail, they’re bound to add up. It’s not one magic bullet.”
Power agreed, but also credited Chevrolet for finding more power from its engines. Chevy cars swept the first eight starting spots.
“Hundreds of little details add up to speed around this…
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