Scott McLaughlin has qualified on pole for tomorrow’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at the World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois.
The Kiwi set a two-lap average speed of 179.972 mph (289.637 kph) in his qualifying effort on the 1.25-mile (2.012 km) oval for a time of 50.0079 seconds.
That effort pipped Felix Rosenqvist by 0.0489 seconds to give the Penske #3 driver his fourth pole of 2024 and the ninth of his career.
“I’m so stoked,” McLaughlin said. “(Since) we rolled out of the truck, the DEX Imaging Chevrolet has been great.
“I’m really proud of (it). We had a procedure, went through it, and then got it done. It just makes me proud of everyone. At the end of the day, tomorrow is payday, and we’ll make sure that we were on top of things.”
David Malukas will start from second after a nine-spot grid penalty for his Meyer Shank Racing teammate Rosenqvist is applied following an unapproved engine change ahead of the weekend.
Rosenqvist’s penalty elevates Indy 500 Josef Newgarden to third on the grid, one spot ahead of teammate Will Power, who makes for three Penske drivers in the top four.
Scott Dixon, who won last year’s race in Illinois, qualified tenth with a two-lap effort of 50.5888 seconds at an average speed of 177.905 mph (286.310 kph).
However, Dixon also loses nine spots on the grid for an unapproved engine change and will line up 19th.
Championship leader Alex Palou is another to take a grid penalty for an engine change, which drops him from his qualifying position of seventh to 16th.
Marcus Armstrong qualified 13th and will line up 11th. He completed his two laps in 00:50.9349 seconds at an average speed of 176.696 mph (284.365 kph).
During his run, Colton Herta lost the rear of his #26 Andretti Global Honda, which sent him into the Turn 2 wall. Herta completed his lap, albeit with damage, and will line up from 25th.
Jack Harvey starts behind Herta after a suspected Hybrid issue compromised his run. He failed to set a time.
Katherine Legge will start at the rear after her #51 Dale Coyne Racing Honda failed technical inspection.
IndyCar returns at 11.45 am NZST on Saturday for final practice before the race begins at 10.00 am on Sunday.
Header Image: Penske Entertainment: Joe Skibinski
