Group A saw out on track Rahal, Malukas, Rossi, McLaughlin, Palou, Ericsson, Siegel, Ferrucci, Rosenqvist, Fittipaldi, Rasmussen, Sowery and Kirkwood.
Palou gets on top after the first set of attempts in 1:09.27, followed by Siegel and Rossi, with the McLaren driver and Fittipaldi all cycling at the lead. Rossi is the first to sign a lap in the 1:06s in the session. At the halfway point McLaughlin leads with a 1:06.149s from Rossi, only 0.05s off the Penske driver’s time and Palou. Malukas, Rasmussen and Ericsson are provisionally through as well.
In the final heated moments of the session the standings get redrawn as Palou exits the stage leading with a 1:05.491, followed by a very impressive Malukas, Rossi, McLaughlin, Rasmussen and Ericsson.
Notable names who didn’t improve, not taking advantage of track evolution were Rosenqvist, Kirkwood and Rahal following his earlier P2, whereas rookie DCR driver Sowery didn’t manage to get an actual timed lap in.
Penske Entertainment: Paul Hurley
After the first set of attempts Veekay appears to be on the same positive form he had shown in the earlier sessions, but his early benchmark in the 1:09s was significantly lowered by Dixon and Herta.
The six times champion is also the first driver to sign a lap in the 1:06s. With five minutes to go, O’Ward leads in 1:06,28, with Herta, Simpson, Dixon and Grosjean advancing as well.
Herta lowers the benchmark to 1:06.105s, but Armstrong is even faster with a lap barely off the 1:05, with Lundqvist signing the sixth provisional fastest lap and kicking out Grosjean. The JHR driver then bolts up to P3, and goes first with a 1:05.94s on his next attempt.
In the final heated moments of the session O’Ward kicks out Dixon who was on the bubble for a very surprising pack of drivers moving on, as Power runs wide on the grass on his final flyer. Reigning 500 champion Newgarden won’t be running for pole as well.
Armstrong advances in P1 with a 1:05.504s, followed by Herta, Lundgaard, O’Ward, Lundqvist, Grosjean.
In the fast 12, Palou gets an early lead over O’Ward, Malukas, Herta, Lundqvist and Lundgaard, with the Meyers Shank Racing driver offering another very positive performance since his return from the wrist injury. Herta and Armstrong cycle at the lead, but O’Ward holds the prime spot with 5 minutes to go and a 1:06.120s. McLaughlin, Armstrong, Herta, Palou and Lundgaard would all advance as well at the moment.
However, it’s a short one as Ed Carpenter’s Rasmussen slots in P2.
Ultimately, Palou ends the session in P1 with a 1:05.284s, and will be joined by O’Ward, Herta, Malukas, Armstrong and Lundgaard, who knocked out in the final stages McLaughlin and Rossi.
O’Ward leads with a 1:05.51s the Fast 6 after his first attempt, followed only 0.100s behind by Malukas ahead of Palou and Hertaand with Armstrong set to exit for only one lap. The reigning champion however is not satisfied with his effort, pulling an 1:05.35s on his second run, with the McLaren driver pulling an incredible lap only 0.0024s off the Spaniard’s benchmark.
It’s a second pole in a row for the two times IndyCar driver following Laguna Seca.
