2022 Indianapolis 500 qualifying, starting grid: Scott Dixon captures fifth career pole with track record

Scott Dixon saved his finest for final and put the youth motion on pause Sunday on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, operating a four-lap common of 234.046 mph to win the pole for the 106th Indianapolis 500 on Could 29. It’s the fifth Indy 500 pole for Dixon, 41, who additionally began from the highest spot on the grid in 2021, 2017, 2015 and 2008 — when he received the race.

Sharing the entrance row with the New Zealander shall be his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, defending collection champion Alex Palou, 25, and Rinus VeeKay, 21, of Ed Carpenter Racing.

Going out first within the Quick 12 section, Dixon proved quickest as the sphere down was whittled right down to the highest six quickest who would go for the pole, and he was capable of make the delicate changes wanted to remain forward of the altering observe situations to remain quickest within the remaining group, the place he was the ultimate driver to make an try.

Consistency is essential on the Brickyard, the place the common of 4 laps is taken, and the veteran displayed the quiet, fast palms and funky demeanor that he’s identified for on his option to setting the quickest four-lap common in Indy 500 qualifying historical past, breaking Scott Brayton’s mark of 233.718 from 1996.

“From the primary run to the second, I knew it was going to get simpler due to the climate situations,” Dixon mentioned, “and the climate held up. It is a privilege to be on the pole, however it do not feel pretty much as good as I felt after I received in 2008. All 32 drivers need that feeling. A few of us have felt it earlier than, and it simply makes you wish to really feel that once more.

“It is all about profitable the five hundred, man. Profitable the pole does offer you confidence, however it’s no assure of something. You simply preserve knocking on that door, and I hope it opens up for me this 12 months.”

Earlier than Dixon’s run, Palou was trying fairly comfy on the entrance after his 233.499 mph when VeeKay’s 233.385 didn’t bump him from the highest spot. 

It was a profitable day for Chip Ganassi Racing, who not solely took the highest two spots on the grid with Dixon and Palou, however have all 5 of their vehicles beginning within the prime 12 with Marcus Ericsson fifth quickest general, Tony Kanaan sixth and Jimmie Johnson twelfth.

“I want they have been simply there to again me up,” Dixon cracked when requested if he felt extra comfy with so many teammates round him. “I am fairly positive Alex shall be making an attempt to move me firstly.”

It was additionally a return to kind for Honda, who powered seven of the highest 12 quickest vehicles and 4 of the highest six.

Beginning grid for the 106th Indianapolis 500

1. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 234.046 mph four-lap common
2. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 233.499
3. Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 233.385
4. Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 233.08
5. Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 232.764
6. Tony Kanaan, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 232.372
7. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 232.705
8. Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 232.182
9. Romain Grosjean, Andretti Autosport, Honda, 231.999
10. Takuma Sato, Dale Coyne Racing with RWR, Honda, 231.67
11. Will Energy, Staff Penske, Chevrolet, 231.534
12. Jimmie Johnson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 231.264
13. David Malukas, Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports, Honda, 231.607
14. Josef Newgarden, Staff Penske, Chevrolet, 231.58
15. Santino Ferrucci, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Chevrolet, 231.508
16. Simon Pagenaud, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda, 231.275
17. J.R. Hildebrand, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet, 231.112
18. Conor Daly, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 230.999
19. Callum Ilott, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet, 230.961
20. Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport, Honda, 230.812
21. Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda, 230.766
22. Sage Karam, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Chevrolet, 230.464
23. Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta Autosport w/Marco and Curb-Agajanian, 230.345
24. Devlin DeFrancesco, Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport, Honda, 230.326
25. Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport with Curb-Agajanian, Honda, 230.235
26. Scott McLaughlin, Staff Penske, Chevrolet, 230.154
27. Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda, 229.63
28. Kyle Kirkwood, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet, 229.406
29. Dalton Kellett, A.J. Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet, 228.916
30. Juan Pablo Montoya – #6, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 228.622
31. Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda, 227.053
32. Jack Harvey, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda, 226.851
33. Stefan Wilson, DragonSpeed/Cusick Motorsports, Chevrolet, no makes an attempt