Qualifying for the second AND third oval race is a bit different compared to regular IndyCar qualifying and, for that matter, compared to the Indianapolis 500. Every driver gets one attempt of two laps, where the first lap determines the starting position for the first race of this double header, and logically the second lap determines the starting position for the race on Sunday.
First on track is Jack Harvey, who suffers from neck and shoulder issues. He clocks 178.561 miles per hour (mph) and 180.389 mph respectively. Teammate Katherine Legge, who drives the #51 Dale Coyne-car, is the next one out, but not after a technical issue with IndyCar themselves. She slots in right behind her teammate with 176.225 mph and 177.862 mph respectively.
Sting Ray Robb splits both Dale Coyne-drivers for the first race, but goes to the top for the second race with 181.069mph. His speeds however fall short to those of David Malukas, who takes provisional pole for both races with speeds of 184.151 mph and 185.595 mph.
The first rookie on track is Kyffin Simpson, but he ends last and second to last respectively in his laps, a tough result for the Caymanian driver.
Oval-specialist Ed Capenter is next, but after a decent lap of 176.838 mph he has a huge moment in his second lap, resulting in just 169.209 mph. Agustín Canapino does same, but keeps his foot down and goes second for now for both races. Pietro Fittipaldi has a decent drive and takes provisional third
Dutchman Rinus VeeKay is next, and goes to provisional first and third, with 184.336 mph and 184.136 mph respectively. He is immediately demoted by Linus Lundqvist for both races.
After 10 drivers the standings are: Lundqvist, VeeKay, Malukas, Canapino, Fittpaldi, Harvey, Robb, Carpenter, Legge and Simpson for race 1, and Malukas, Canapino, Lundqvist, VeeKay, Fittipaldi, Robb, Harvey, Simpson, Legge and Carpenter for race 2.
Harvey is told he gets a second attempt as the hybrid was disabled due to network issues, which was the reason why Legge’s run was delayed.
Graham Rahal is next and goes to the provisional pole for both races with 184.810 mph and 185.690 mph respectively. Rookie Nolan Siegel, who was bumped on Indianapolis, has a better qualifying now and slots in fifth and fourth respectively.
Marcus Armstrong to the top for race 1, but just 11th for race 2 as he kisses the SAFER-barrier coming out of turn 2. Romain Grosjean goes ninth and seventh.
Next up is Santino Ferrucci in the second A.J. Foyt-entry. He goes to the top for race 1 with a 185.405 mph, but can only muster ninth for the second race.
Marcus Ericsson crashed yesterday but goes to third in his first lap. He has a big moment in T1, so goes to 11th for race 2. Christian Lundgaard manages just 12th and ninth for the moment, as Josef Newgarden slots in 12th and sixth with some suspected hybrid issues. IndyCar however says everything is OK and his attempt counts.
Harvey then gets his second attempt, and goes to 13th and 11th. Felix Rosenqvist’s attempt brings him fourth for race 1, but first for race 2 with 186.835 mph. He is however bested by Scott McLaughlin who puts his Penske-car on top for both races with 187.526 mph and 188.248 mph respectively, with the latter lap being a new track record.
With 20 drivers on the board, the top 10’s are: McLaughlin, Ferrucci, Armstrong, Ericcsson, Rosenqvist, Rahal, Lundqvist, VeeKay, Malukas and Siegel for race 1, and McLaughlin, Rosenqvist, Rahal, Malukas, Canapino, Siegel, Lundqvist, Newgarden and VeeKay for race 2.
Alexander Rossi is next up and he goes to second and third respectively, but the American driver complains about the hybrid system. Compatriot Kyle Kirkwood manages just 14th and eight, whereas teammate Colton Herta goes to provisional pole for race 1 with 187.655 mph, and to the provisional front row for race 2, but he also complains about the battery not deploying, thus leaving some time out on track.
The running is subsequently paused as IndyCar is looking for a solution for the many hybrid issues. The main issue seems to be with the network that controls whether or not the battery deployment is available.
The race director is also talking with Herta’s crew, offering them to do a second run. Jack Harvey is also offered to do an additional run, again, but given the physical condition of the Briton it is unclear if they will take the opportunity.
Six-time champion Scott Dixon is the first one out after the involuntary break, going to third in his first lap. In his second lap he manages second, with just three more drivers needing to set a time.
Pato O’Ward is next, but the Mid-Ohio winner manages just fourth for the first race and just sixth for the second race.
The last four poles in Iowa were for Will Power, but this time he gets provisional third for race 1, and just 22nd for race 2 as he slides to the top of turn 2 and lightly touches the wall.
The last regular run is for Álex Palou, currently on top of the championship. His first lap brings him third place, and he improves a place to second for his second lap.
Qualifying however is not over as both Herta and Harvey are going for another attempt. Herta however pulls back at the last minute, as with a current first and fourth place he would be risking too much. Harvey however does take the attempt, and he goes out for the third time this afternoon.
He does improve for both race as he goes 19th and 18th respectively. This means there is pole position for Colton Herta for the first race, and for Scott McLaughlin in the second race on Sunday.
The top 10 for race 1 is: Herta, McLaughlin, Palou, Power, O’Ward, Rossi, Ferrucci, Armstrong and Ericsson. For race 2 the top 10 is: McLaughlin, Palou, Herta, Rosenqvist, Rossi, O’Ward, Rahal, Malukas and Canapino.
