Scott Dixon has qualified as the best of the Kiwis for next weekend’s Indy 500 where he’ll start from the second row in sixth. Scott McLaughlin will start 14th overall from row five.
Dixon had shown great pace all weekend, qualifying for the Firestone Fast Six held early this morning, in search of what would have been a record-breaking third consecutive pole.
It was Dixon’s teammate Alex Palou who claimed the top spot, setting a new average speed record of 234.217 mph, eclipsing the Kiwi’s previous record of 234.046 mph which he set on his way to pole last year.
Both Dixon and McLaughlin had navigated their way through the extensive qualifying regime, with McLaughlin narrowly missing the final 12 by just .042 mph, a time difference of less than .03 seconds across four laps.
Dixon’s undoing was in the Fast Six, with the Kiwi admitting his final run could have gone better.
“Huge day for the team,” he said on Palou’s success. “That was cool to keep the tradition alive. Three in a row for the team is fantastic and congrats to Alex and the No. 10 car group. Our last run was just so loose, just scrubbing a ton of speed. We’ll regroup and get ready for the race from here.”
The pole is the third in a row for Chip Ganassi Racing following Dixon’s previous two, making them the first team to take qualifying honours over three consecutive years since 1991. All four of their drivers start in the top 10.
Joining Palou on the front row are Rimus VeeKay and Felix Rosenqvist, while Santino Ferrucci ad Pato O’Ward join Dixon on the second row. Two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato will start eighth, with Alexander Rossi and Tony Kanaan starting either side, making for a previous champions third row.
The fourth row is completed by Marcus Ericsson, top rookie Benjamin Pedersen and Will Power, with McLaughlin having Ed Carpenter and Kyle Kirkwood for company on row five.
Graham Rahal was the unlucky 34th qualifier, meaning he’ll miss the start of next weekend’s race.
Marcus Armstrong is not competing in the race due to only running street and road courses this year.
The 107th running of the Indy 500 begins at 3.00 am next Monday and will be shown live on Sky Sport 5.
Header Image: Chip Ganassi Racing
