It’s the second pole position this season for the Danish driver. Championship leader Alex Palou didn’t advance to Round 2.
In a heavily rain-affected qualifying session, Christian Lundgaard was able to snatch his second-career pole position. It’s another mark of Rahal’s recovery this season, after Lundgaard’s pole at the GMR GP and Graham Rahal’s front row in Mid-Ohio.Pole favorites Kyle Kirkwood and Colton Herta didn’t even advance to the Firestone Fast Six and Alex Palou did not go beyond Round 1, starting in the 8th row for tomorrow’s race.Round 1, Group 1Group 1 started as Practice 1 ended: with Kirkwood on top. As the first times were set, he was the leader, two-tenths ahead of Christian Lundgaard. Drivers were having difficulties finding a gap on the racetrack to set their lap times in the Alternate Firestones, causing confusion. One of those incidents caused a penalty, with David Malukas exiting the pits just ahead of Scott Dixon, that was starting a fast lap. That made the Dale Coyne fall through the time sheets and not be able to fight for a spot at the Fast 12.
Rain showered the track within 40 seconds remaining, creating difficulties for the drivers just outside the top-6.The driver that was most affected was championship leader Alex Palou. He was preparing for his last qualifying attempt when the rain affected the track. The Ganassi No. 10 driver will start in the 8th row, leaving him with a huge effort to try to win his 4th race in a row.Advanced to Round 2: Kyle Kirkwood, with a 1:00:6453; Rinus VeeKay, attempting a lap just before the rain affected the track; Christian Lundgaard; Will Power; Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin.Were not able to advance: Castroneves, Palou, Malukas, Harvey, Hunter-Reay, Robb, and Pedersen.Round 1, Group 2The green flag for Group 2 was delayed “as course conditions were evaluated” because rain poured on the racetrack.When the drivers were allowed to run, the spray coming out of the cars was blinding the competitors behind. Also, the conditions were treacherous: Agustin Canapino and Colton Herta spun, causing local yellows; Romain Grosjean and Tom Blomqvist went wide while breaking for turn 3. But, the first big victim of the rain was Graham Rahal. He spun out of turn 6 and crashed into the wall. The No. 15 was able to come back to the pits, to repair his car.
Continuing with the incidents: Grosjean spun once again just crossing the alternate start-finish lap; Alexander Rossi’s Arrow McLaren had an electrical issue and he was unable to rejoin the session; Tom Blonqvist had a minor touch to the tyre barrier while ending his last attempt and Marcus Armstrong had a bigger touch with the same wall, but when the session was already over.When the chequered flag dropped, it was clear that the results were under review, because any driver that caused a yellow flag and impeded others could receive a penalty and lose their two fastest laps.
As the results were verified, no penalties were applied, so Romain Grosjean was the fastest, with a 1:14:0454. Also advanced to the Fast 12: Marcus Ericsson, Josef Newgarden, Felix Rosenqvist, Pato O’Ward, and Marcus Armstrong.Did not advance: Herta, a favorite for pole, Ilott, Canapino, Blomqvist, DeFrancesco, Ferrucci, Rossi, and Rahal. Round 2 – Fast 12The session started with a dump track. Drivers were still using the rain tyres, but the track was improving rapidly. It was predicted that the Firestone Fast Six would be on a dry track.Arrow McLarens, Andrettis, and Ganassis had the best package on the dump conditions. Those three teams were consistently on top of the grid. But, as the track dried, times fell off and it was a question of the right timing on who would go through to the Fast Six.Team Penske, Rahal, and especially Arrow McLaren with Pato O’Ward timed it to perfection. The No. 5 crew selected to put new wet tyres on the car and it paid off. The Mexican went straight to the top, with a 1:11:3448.Went through to the Fast Six: Pato O’Ward, Christian Lundgaard, Felix Rosenqvist, Scott McLaughlin, Marcus Ericsson – with a spin while crossing the alternate start-finish line -, and Will Power.Did not advance: Dixon, Kirkwood – one of the favorites for pole -, Grosjean, Armstrong, Newgarden, and VeeKay.Round 3 – Firestone Fast SixThe session started with the crews debating within using the wets or the alternate tyres. Only Pato O’Ward attempted to use the dry rubber and it was the correct decision, despite some wet patches. So, the rest of the grid pitted for alternate soft tyres, in response to O’Ward.But, Scott McLaughlin spun out of the alternate start-finish line and impeded Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Ericsson. He got his two previous fastest laps taken, but as he made that mistake early on the session, he could continue to attempt a better position than 6th.As the track dried, times fell off quickly, and, as in Round 2, the fight for pole was defined by who was in the best track position at the right time.And, Rahal Letterman Lanigan timed it to perfection. Christian Lundgaard was the penultimate to cross the line and went straight to the top. He snatched pole position with a 1:04:1567. A surprising pole-sitter, seeing Rahal’s record on street courses this season.The order behind him was: Scott McLaughlin, Pato O’Ward – the last to finish a lap, but unable to top Lundgaard -, Marcus Ericsson, Felix Rosenqvist, and Will Power.
