With his IndyCar future uncertain, on Friday (July 29) Arrow McLaren SP’s Felix Rosenqvist put in an incredible lap of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course to score pole position for Saturday’s Gallagher Grand Prix. It is the second pole of the season for the Swedish driver, the third of his career, and his second at the IMS road course.
Rosenqvist’s time of 1:10.2265, set in the closing seconds of the Firestone Fast Six, put him nearly three-tenths ahead of second-place Alexander Rossi.
“I think it helps to do these kind of performances,” Rosenqvist told NBC. “The Arrow McLaren SP Chevy was unbelievable. Big thanks to Velo, Mission, Team Chevy. It was just unreal the whole day. I felt so calm in the car. I think I knew when I did that lap it was the one.”
McLaren’s Pato O’Ward will start third, followed by Team Penske’s Will Power and Josef Newgarden and rookie Christian Lundgaard for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Round One Group One
A clean first round was headed up by Conor Daly for Ed Carpenter Racing. Joining the Indiana native in advancing to the Fast 12 were Newgarden, Power, O’Ward, Lundgaard and Simon Pagenaud.
Round One Group Two
The red flag waved immediately for championship leader Marcus Ericsson, whose No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda coasted to a halt before any drivers had even completed a single flying lap. The Chip Ganassi Racing team shut off Ericsson’s engine remotely to avoid further damage after detecting a problem. Ericsson will face an uphill battle fighting back toward the front tomorrow, starting from dead last.
In the end, Rosenqvist put in the fastest time, with GMR Grand Prix winner Colton Herta, Rinus VeeKay, Palou, Rossi and David Malukas moving on into the Fast 12.
Eliminated in round one was Romain Grosjean, a two-time podium scorer on this layout.
“We can’t keep going like this,” Grosjean told his Andretti Autosport team over the radio, after qualifying in an eventual 22nd place.
Also out early was six-time champion Scott Dixon, who called his performance, “amateur hour” while speaking to NBC from pit lane.
Fast Twelve
There were fast laps late from just about everybody, but when the time ran out, it was Power, IndyCar’s best qualifier, on top. Joining him in the final round were Rosenqvist, Newgarden, Rossi, O’Ward and Lundgaard.
Palou, VeeKay and Herta were the big names eliminated, and will take the green flag sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.
Fast…
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