Scott McLaughlin drove the iconic “Yellow Submarine” Pennzoil Chevrolet to the fastest-ever Indianapolis 500 pole speed, turning four-laps at an average speed of 234.220 miles per hour.
McLaughlin will lead his Team Penske teammates Will Power and Josef Newgarden to the green flag in the race’s 108th running, marking the second time Team Penske has swept the race’s front row, the first being in 1988.
“Welcome to the party,” McLaughlin shouted after taking the pole. “The Pennzoil Chevrolet was unreal. So much pride to be able to do it. A lot of pride. Hello to my mum and dad back home in New Zealand, and there’s one person I know that is watching this who’s helped me all week. You know who you are brother.”
“Him, but there’s a couple of others in my corner that I’m very thankful for,” McLaughlin said when asked if the person who had helped was Rick Mears, who was one of multiple IndyCar legends to wheel the iconic paint scheme around the Speedway in years past.
“I’m working hard,” he continued. “Indy hasn’t been kind to me and a lot of it was my doing, I need to work on things and this is the first step. Really to proud to do it with all these guys and girls on the team, the Thirsty Threes, baby. We’re coming … Let’s get this Yellow Submarine back in victory lane.”
Fast Six
Behind the Penske trio making up front row is Alexander Rossi, whose four-lap run came to an average of 233.090 mph, followed by his one-off teammate Kyle Larson. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion will roll off fifth for his first Indy 500 by virtue of his four-lap average clocking 232.846 mph. Larson made haste in leaving the Speedway en route to North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina where he is due to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Last of the Fast Six is Santino Ferrucci, who went out first and laid down an average of 232.692 mph.
Fast 12
Rinus VeeKay will lead row 3 from the inside after making a last-minute dash to the Fast 12 during Saturday’s qualifying session. The 23-year-old from Hoofddorp, Netherelands, crashed in turn 3 early on Saturday and picked up heavy damage to the left-hand side of his car in the process.
With just five minutes remaining, VeeKay’s crew rolled the car forward and its driver put in a blistering run to force his way into the top 12. VeeKay showed a similarly…
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