Scott Dixon has stormed to pole position for the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500, his third pole at The Brickyard after a thoroughly entering Sunday qualifying session.
The session was split into two segments, with the first part consisting of the drivers who ended Saturday qualifying outside the top nine. These drivers filled the positions from P10 to P32, before the all-important ‘Fast 9 Shootout’ got underway shortly afterwards.
Ed Carpenter was the last driver to take to the track during the ‘Fast 9 Shootout’ after ending Saturday qualifying fastest, however the team owner was ultimately unable to challenge Dixon’s scintillating four lap average of 232.164mph – the only driver to end the day in the 232mph bracket.
Reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi was a strong third for Andretti Autosport, ahead of team-mate and former Formula 1 racer Takuma Sato.
Sato ended Saturday qualifying second fastest, and was therefore the penultimate driver to take to the track during the ‘Fast 9 Shootout’.
Double F1 champion Fernando Alonso was a very impressive P5 for McLaren-Honda-Andretti, sending many fans into rapturous applause as he initially flew to the top with a 231.300mph average.
During his four lap run Alonso’s laps got progressively quicker, however after the improvements from the likes of Dixon and Carpenter, the Spaniard will be forced to start from the second row of the grid next Sunday.
J.R. Hildebrand could only manage sixth for Ed Carpenter Racing, ahead of IndyCar veteran Tony Kanaan.
Marco Andretti was the first driver to take to the track during the ‘Fast 9 Shootout’, however he was unable to set the timing sheets alight and eventually only qualified P8 ahead of Will Power.
Although Power is the highest Penske on the grid for the Indianapolis 500, he was the only Penske racer to make it into the ‘Fast 9 Shootout’ and will start way ahead of team-mates Juan Pablo Montoya, Helio Castroneves, Josef Newgarden and reigning champion Simon Pagenaud.
Ed Jones stood out as one of the highlights of the first segment of qualifying earlier in the day, with the rookie only just missing out on a spot in the ‘Fast 9 Shootout’ after Saturday qualifying.
The Dubai-born British racer will line-up P11 on the grid for Dale Coyne Racing, after ending the first segment of Sunday qualifying behind only former champion Ryan Hunter-Reay.
Further down the order rookie Zach Veach finally managed to qualify, after missing Saturday’s session after damaging his car substantially during ‘Fast Friday’ practice.
James Davison will complete the grid in P33 for Dale Coyne Racing, despite not partaking in either qualifying sessions.
The Australian racer will substitute for the injured Sebastien Bourdais at Dale Coyne Racing, and will eventually take to the track later in the week once Bourdais’ road course spare car has been reconfigured for oval competition.
