Group 1
After two eventful practices the 27 IndyCar-drivers set out for the qualifying on the IMS Road Course. Group 1 contained all three Team Penske-drivers and former winner Rinus VeeKay. Previous race’s winner Scott McLaughlin was the first to set a time with 1:12.1287, but as always the first lap is just part of the tyre warming process.
McLaughlin’s first proper flyer was a 1:10.1534, but he was quickly bested by Agustín Canapino, who was having a great day so far with a second place in the morning practice.
Will Power was the first to go below the 1:10-mark, followed by Pato O’Ward, before the drivers headed in for the switch to the red-walled alternate tyre.
McLaughlin is the first to leapfrog Power on the soft tyres with a 1:09.5018, who is bested by VeeKay and Power subsequently. Pietro Fittipaldi pushes McLaughlin out, als Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi and O’Ward nested themselves inbetween the Kiwi and the Dutchman, resulting in McLaughlin missing out on the Fast 12.
Canapino also doesn’t make it to the Fast 12, as none of the drivers seem to be able to improve in their second lap. Through are: Power, VeeKay, Newgarden, O’Ward, Rossi and Fittipaldi.
Group 2
In the second group it is Felix Rosenqvist to set the first time, but is quickly dropping down the order as the other drivers set their opening laps, with Christian Lundgaard on top with a 1:10.5091. After the second round of laps Lundgaard is again on top, but closely followed by the Chip Ganassi’s of Álex Palou and Marcus Armstrong.
Colton Herta manages to squeeze himself inbetween Lundgaard and Palou, before Armstrong goes to the top briefly, as Scott Dixon tops him shortly after. Armstrong and Dixon swap positions twice before Palou goes second, making it a Chip Ganassi 1-2-3 before the switch to the alternates.
Graham Rahal tried to go out early, but is being held up by other cars coming out of the pits. Lundgaard is the first of the other guys to push for a fast lap, but he backs up as well a little later. Rosenqvist is the first to go to the top, as Luca Ghiotto is also looking to sneak into the Fast 12.
Lundgaard goes second as Herta has to park his car as he’s ran out of fuel. Nothing really changes anymore, meaning Rosenqvist, Lundgaard, Armstrong, Rahal, Palou and Dixon are through to the next round.
Fast 12
The dance to go through the final section of qualifying is opened by Power, followed by Rosenqvist. Lundgaard jumps them, before the real push laps on the prime tyres start. Again Power and Rosenqvist go to the top, again followed by Lundgaard going to first. Power goes back to the top a little while later, and then goes into the pits to switch his tyres, followed by the rest of the pack. Palou manages to quickly sneak to the top before going to the reds.
Lungaard is the first to start a timed lap on the soft tyres, but like in the previous parts the first lap is just used to warm up the tyres, preparing for a one-lap attempt to make the Fast 6.
First going to the top is Lundgaard, followed by teammate Graham Rahal, before Power goes to the top with a 1:08.9664. O’Ward goes second, before Palou snags the spot from him. Lungaard goes to the top again, and again is denied by Power a few moments later.
Eventually the following are through to the Fast 6: Power, Lundgaard, Palou, O’Ward, Newgarden and Dixon.
Firestone Fast 6
With Rosenqvist out there is one less obstacle for Will Power to get his first pole of the season, barely missing out in Long Beach and Barber. He starts out on the alternates, as Palou goes through grass on start of his flying lap.
Power tops the sheets after the first laps with 1:09.1603, followed by Newgarden and Dixon, before the switch to the second set of tyres. Lundgaard goes to second, but has enough tyre left to take another shot and goes to top. Palou tops him a little later, while both Power and Dixon are on the edge of nicking the pole from the Spaniard. The Kiwi loses some time halfway through the lap, while the Ozzy is right on the mark until he goes wide in the final corner, cementing Palou’s pole. Eventually he beats Lundgaard by a little under a tenth of a second.
