Round 1, Group 1
It was a mix of tyres on the first runs as qualifying on the narrow streets of Detroit kicked off. Castroneves and DeFrancesco went on the greens instantly.
Championship leader Alex Palou logged a 1:02.6961 to lead after the first runs, with the impressive Marcus Armstrong slotting into 2nd on a 1:02.8341. Grosjean, Pedersen, Power and De Francesco completed the top 6 with 5 minutes to go.
Rosenqvist, Castroneves, Pagenaud, Malukas, Rossi, Daly and Harvey found themselves on the outside looking in before everyone switched to the softer compound.
Laps had to be abandoned as Helio Castroneves spun at turn 2 and caused yellow flags.
The impressive pace of CGR continued with Marcus Armstrong logging a 1:01.8558 to put himself fastest by 0.3s from Grosjean. Palou, Power, Pagenaud and a last second lap by Rosenqvist all made it through.
Rossi, Daly, DeFrancesco, Pedersen, Malukas, Castroneves and Harvey got bumped.
Round 1, Group 2
Santino Ferrucci was hit with an immediate drive-through penalty after causing a yellow by going off at turn 8.
Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Autosport led the way on the first runs with a 1:02.2093, followed by O’Ward, Lundgaard, Dixon, McLaughlin and Ilott.
VeeKay, Herta, Ferrucci, Newgarden, Robb, Ericsson, Rahal and Canapino were in the elimination zone before everyone went to the softer green tyre.
However, Herta couldn’t run again after damaging his car as he hit the wall on the exit of turn 7.
Kirkwood lowered his marker to a 1:01.5305 as he breezed through fastest of all. McLaughlin was the only other car in the 1:01 region. O’Ward, Dixon, Ericsson and Newgarden also made it through.
VeeKay, Ilott, Lundgaard, Canapino, Ferrucci, Herta, Robb and Rahal saw their day end in Round 1.
Lundgaard hit the wall with his left front at turn 7 for the second time today.
Round 2
The start of the session saw a mix of used alternates and blacks.
There was more pain for Andretti Autosport as Kyle Kirkwood repeated what Lundgaard did in the previous round and hit the wall, ending his day early when he looked a pole contender.
McLaughlin on a 1:02.5717 led Palou, Grosjean, Power, McLaughlin and Pagenaud with 3 minutes to go.
O’Ward, Ericsson, Dixon, Rosenqvist and Armstrong needed to improve to get in.
The times tumbled as everyone fitted new tyres.
A 1:01.6390 from Alex Palou saw him end up quickest, with Grosjean, Ericsson, Newgarden and McLaughlin also did 1:01s. Scott Dixon also got through with a 1:02.0.
Power, Pagenaud, Rosenqvist, O’Ward, Armstrong and Kirkwood will fill positions 7-12 on the grid tomorrow.
Fast 6
Grosjean and Ericsson got hit with drive-through penalties as they both went into the run-off area at turn 8.
Championship leader Alex Palou logged a 1:03.7423 to be fastest halfway through. Newgarden and McLaughlin were the only other ones to set a competitive time.
The Spaniard went even faster as a 1:01.8592 gave him a very comfortable pole position by 0.3s. It’s his third pole of his IndyCar career. Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske joins the CGR driver on the front row.
Photo credit: Penske Entertainment | James Black
Grosjean, Dixon, Newgarden and Ericsson are on the second and third rows for tomorrow’s race in downtown Detroit.
