Felix Rosenqvist continued his strong form in qualifying in 2023 as he secured P3 on the grid for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. The Swede has started in the top 10 in every race to date this season.
Photo credit: Penske Entertainment | Chris Owens
Included in that are a pole at Texas and 2nd at the Indy GP earlier this month. For the second consecutive event, he missed out on pole by less than a tenth.
The 31-year-old went quickest in the Fast 12 session earlier in the day with a whopping 234.081mph four-lap average. Although he went even faster in the Fast 6 on an average of 234.114, he was beaten by Alex Palou and Rinus VeeKay. Nonetheless, he was comfortably the fastest Arrow McLaren driver across the weekend.
Speaking post-qualifying, Rosenqvist admitted he had mixed feelings after missing out on easily the most treasured pole during the IndyCar season.
“It’s mixed feelings right now. I think overall it’s a very good day for us. I think these two found something in the Fast Six that we didn’t find.
“We felt like we were kind of on top of it going into it. We were not confident, but we felt like we put the best possible scenario on the car, and big thanks to all the group at Arrow McLaren and Team Chevy as well.
“I think the whole team came together for this final run where we threw everything we had at it, and we missed out, and it’s the second time in not so long I’m sitting here and missing pole with I think one or two thousandths. It’s what it is, but overall we have to be proud to have all the cars in the top 12. It’s just been a phenomenal month for us so far.
“But yeah, big congrats to Alex and also to Rinus. That was a hell of a run. We couldn’t match that today.”
Rosenqvist looked like the favourite for P1 after his blistering run in the Fast 12. However, he felt the car wasn’t quite as well balanced when it mattered most.
“Yeah, I don’t know. It didn’t feel like it [that the track conditions were at their best all weekend]. I could feel on the run pretty much on my warm-up lap that it didn’t feel as sporty as it did earlier today, so kind of had to look what went wrong.
“Obviously we didn’t change a bunch on the car. We were pretty sure what we put on was the best we’d done all month.
“But man, it’s tight, and if you don’t get it 10 out of 10, there’s going to be two other boys sitting next to you with better lap times.”
Despite missing out on P1, the Swedish star was very pleased to drive the rapid number 6 Arrow McLaren.
“I think anyway, it’s just been incredible, and just to have the privilege to drive a car that looks that good and is that fast I think is yeah, it makes it pretty cool.”
Speculation about the Swede’s future with Arrow McLaren continues to be a big talking point. Alex Palou is expected to join them next year.
If a fourth full-time car is added, hints on social media from respected journalists suggest Marcus Ericsson could be in the frame for that seat if he leaves CGR.
Rosenqvist was asked about his situation at Arrow McLaren after qualifying. While he believes these performances don’t hurt his chances to stay, he prefers to focus on the here and now to extract everything out of himself and the car.
“I mean, it doesn’t hurt. We always try to be quick, and I feel like most of the time we are.
“INDYCAR racing is not easy, and it doesn’t always go the way you want, but no, I feel like it’s been a good year so far, even with two DNFs [at St. Pete and Texas] to start the year. It’s obviously super difficult to crawl out of that.
“But on top of that, it’s been great. Everywhere we’ve gone, we’ve been quick. We’ve been qualifying up front. We’ve been good in the races, good strategy.
“The whole team has just come together so well that I just feel like there’s quite a lot in store for us for the rest of the season, and obviously now we’re here again on the front row for the second race in a row.
“It’s awesome. We just have to ride the wave, and I feel like that way is going to get bigger as the year goes on, and what happens for me in the future, I don’t know, and I don’t really think about it right now.
“I just try to be in the now, extract everything I can every race, and I always tell myself things work themselves out if you just focus on what you do in the car.”
