IndyCar | Milwaukee | Qualifying | Penske dominate qualifying with pole for both races – Motorsport

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Penske again looked the team to beat on an oval as they dominate qualifying in Milwaukee , with pole position for both races. McLaughlin for race 1, Newgarden for race 2.

The first two cars to hit the track in qualifying were both of the Dale Coyne machines, Jack Harvey setting a speed of 157.855 for the first lap before his teammate Katherine Legge put her car just behind, for the first time in the season, DCR showing some speed that will allow them to compete. Harvey will start in the top 20 for both races.

Within the battle for the leaders circle, Conor Daly who was drafted in specially for the ovals, was the first to set a time, swiftly followed by Christian Rasmussen who got one over his more experienced competitor, jumping ahead of him for race 1 with a 156.911. Race 2 however is a different story, with Daly setting a better speed.

This won’t amount to much however as it was confirmed earlier today that Rasmussen will be taking a 9 place grid drop for an engine change.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan were a team that were struggling for speed, Pietro Fittipaldi setting the worst laps of the session early on with a disappointing starting position of last before penalties for both races. His teammate Graham Rahal was not much further ahead, qualifying second last and third last over the two laps.

Fresh off a disappointing end to his last oval race, David Malukas showed his oval prowess, putting himself on the front row for race 1 with a speed of 161.426 mph.

Not long later Chip Ganassi Racing driver Marcus Armstrong put down a couple of laps, both of which put him in the top 3 at the time. The kiwi will start race 1 in 14th once his nine place penalty is applied, showing great speed though as his second lap was even better than his first. He will start third for tomorrow’s race.

Last weekend’s polesitter Santino Ferrucci did not have the same fortune as in Portland, having a huge snap of oversteer on lap one that put him outside the top 20 before coming back with a cleaner lap 2 which will see him start in the top 15 for race 2.

Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood will be one to watch for the rest of the weekend, the driver of the 27 struggling with understeer and qualifying far below where he was expected, both laps were only good enough for starting positions outside the top 15.

The king on ovals of late Josef Newgarden was the next to go in qualifying, and he did not have the same struggles, as despite looking loose for both laps, he put himself P2 for race 1, unfortunately for him he will also have to serve a penalty that will see him drop to tenth on the grid. He will start Race 2 in pole position.

Another big name driver, like Kirkwood, who did not perform up to expectations was Scott Dixon. The six time champion qualified seventeenth for both races.

Already having four pole positions so far this season, Scott McLaughlin claimed his fifth, going to the top for race 1 before a small mistake on his second cost him a double pole, settling into second.

Within the championship fight, third in the championship Colton Herta found himself with the same issue his teammate Kirkwood faced, extreme oversteer costing him a place in the top 10 for both laps.

Second in the championship Will Power did not have the same blistering speed shown by his Penske teammates. Despite this, two consistent laps meant Power will start both races in the top five.

He will start ahead of the championship leader however as Alex Palou set two times that will see him start no better than tenth in either race.

Race 1: