Lundqvist masters wet qualifying for first pole, Newgarden shunts · RaceFans

Linus Lundqvist claimed his first IndyCar pole position after a huge crash for Josef Newgarden brought an early end to qualifying.

The Penske driver was unhurt after slamming into the barrier at the exit of the high-speed Kink corner. Newgarden lost control of his car when he touched the wet entry kerb on his final lap of the Fast Six session.

He was the second Penske driver to hit trouble in the final stage of qualifying. Team mate Will Power’s session ended after he spun off at Canada Corner earlier on.

Lundqvist had set the quickest time shortly before Newgarden’s crash, lapping a tenth of a second faster than Colton Herta. The Andretti driver led the field out of the pits when the session restarted after Power’s crash, but reached the chequered flag earlier than his rivals as lap times improved on the dry track.

Lundqvist and Herta will each have one of their team mates directly behind them on the grid for tomorrow’s race. Marcus Armstrong took third for Ganassi and Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood will line up alongside him. Row three will be filled with the two Penske drivers whose lap times were deleted for causing the red flags in the Fast Six session.

While slicks were used in the final session, wet tyres were favoured earlier on when there was more water on the track. Last year’s winner Alex Palou narrowly missed his chance to reach the Fast Six and will start alongside Scott McLaughlin, who had several off-track moments in the third of the Penskes.

The highest McLaren driver will start ninth on the grid. Alexander Rossi and Pato O’Ward headed the first group when the track was at its wettest but lacked pace as the track dried out. Scott Dixon will separate them on the grid.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Kyffin Simpson, who impressively progressed from group one with a late lap which eliminated Christian Lundgaard, claimed 12th. Lundgaard will start 13th alongside Romain Grosjean, who missed the cut to escape group two by a tenth of a second.

Qualifying result