Round 1, Group 1
Felix Rosenqvist posted the first time on a 1:10.5910, which was beaten seconds later by Will Power by seven hundredths.
The Australian led the way on the banker laps, logging a 1:07.2883. Rosenqvist (1:07.2956), Herta (1:07.3004), Palou, Rasmussen and Rahal completed the top 6 as all the drivers put the alternates on.
It was another incredibly impressive run by the MSR of Rosenqvist on the alternates as a 1:06.3372 saw him end up fastest. He did two laps which would have been enough for P1. Herta, Dixon, Power, Palou and Rahal also booked their spots in the Fast 12.
The biggest casualty was Alexander Rossi as he missed out on advancing by just under half a tenth. Blomqvist, Lundqvist, Fittipaldi, Rasmussen, Harvey and Robb completed the order.
Round 1, Group 2
It was a conservative start to the second part as a 1:13.004 from Josef Newgarden was the first time pumped in.
A 1:06.8231 from Scott McLaughlin saw him fastest on the primary. Kirkwood was also in the 1:06s. Ericsson, Ferrucci (alternates), O’Ward and VeeKay rounded out the top 6 before everyone went on the alternates.
Theo Pourchaire was straight on the greens and logged a 1:07.3194 to be P7. St. Pete winner Newgarden was down in 11th.
The times tumbled as Marcus Armstrong pumped in a 1:06.1509, fractions ahead of Marcus Ericsson who also did a 1:06.1. Kirkwood, McLaughlin, Lundgaard and Newgarden also made their way through.
Pato O’Ward was the big shock as the Mexican driver could only finish P7, 0.045s slower than Newgarden. Grosjean and Canapino also narrowly missed out as they were in the 1:06.4s as well. The Argentine went down the run off on his final lap and dropped one spot as he lost his best time.
VeeKay, Pourchaire (1:06.9722), Ferrucci, Simpson and Siegel completed the order.
Round 2
The 1:06s quickly arrived on the primaries in the second phase of qualifying.
A 1:06.4677 from Colton Herta put him 0.2s clear of teammate Kyle Kirkwood. Newgarden, Power, McLaughlin and Ericsson completed the top 6, leaving all the Andretti Global and Team Penske in the show at that point.
Dixon, Palou, Lundgaard, Rosenqvist, Armstrong and Rahal completed the order — they were all in the 1:07s.
On the greens, the lap times continued to tumble.
Reigning champion Alex Palou pumped in a 1:05.9103 to go under the 66s barrier. Herta, Newgarden, Ericsson, Rosenqvist (all in the 1:06.0s) and Power also booked their spots in the final segment of qualifying.
Lundgaard, six-time champion Dixon, Armstrong, Kirkwood, McLaughlin and Rahal completed the order. 0.4s covered Palou and McLaughlin.
Fast 6
The first big time came from Will Power as the Aussie logged a 1:06.3993 with just over 3 minutes to go.
Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden went to the top as a 1:06.1059 and looked set for pole.
However, Felix Rosenqvist continued his remarkable qualifying streak to start 2024 as he did a 1:06.0172 to take pole positions by four thousands from Will Power. It’s Meyer Shank Racing’s first IndyCar pole.
Newgarden, Herta, Ericsson and Palou completed the Fast 6 order in a thrilling end to qualifying.
