Indianapolis, IN
Dixon Breaks Pole Speed Record With Fifth Indy Top Spot
Dixon Breaks Pole Velocity Report With Fifth Indy High Spot
Scott Dixon additional cemented his legend as one of many greatest-ever INDYCAR SERIES drivers, incomes his fifth profession Indianapolis 500 introduced by Gainbridge pole Sunday with the quickest four-lap common pace for a pole sitter within the century-plus historical past of “The Best Spectacle in Racing.”
Because the final driver on monitor within the Firestone Quick Six, six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Dixon delivered the drama with a four-lap common pace of 234.046 mph within the No. 9 PNC Financial institution Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Dixon, from Auckland, New Zealand, earned a $100,000 for the NTT P1 Award and is only one shy of four-time Indy winner Rick Mears for essentially the most poles in “500” historical past.
“That’s what this place is about; it’s so superb,” Dixon stated. “It’s loopy. This PNC Financial institution No. 9 crew and Honda, they introduced it right this moment. Simply so completely satisfied for everyone.”
SEE: Beginning Lineup
Dixon’s run broke the all-time pole file pace of 233.718 set in 1996 by Scott Brayton. Arie Luyendyk set the all-time four-lap qualifying common pace file of 236.986 in 1996, however his run got here on the second day of {qualifications} and wasn’t eligible for the pole.
Chip Ganassi Racing earned its first 1-2 begin at Indianapolis since 2008 – when Dixon earned his sole victory within the race from pole and Dan Wheldon began second – as reigning sequence champion Alex Palou certified second at 233.499 within the No. 10 NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Dixon and Palou led 4 Ganassi drivers within the Firestone Quick Six ultimate qualifying session.
“To get 5 of our vehicles into the quick 12 and 4 into the (Firestone Quick) Six, I hope Chip has a smile on his face,” Dixon stated. “That undoubtedly deserves a smile.”
Rinus VeeKay took the final spot within the entrance row for the second consecutive 12 months, qualifying third at 233.385 within the No. 21 Bitcoin Racing Workforce with BitNile Chevrolet fielded by Ed Carpenter Racing.
That is the quickest entrance row in Indy 500 historical past, with a mean pace of 233.643, breaking the file of 233.233 set in 1996.
ECR owner-driver Ed Carpenter will begin fourth within the No. 33 Alzamend Neuro Chevrolet after his run of 233.080.
Chip Ganassi Racing put 4 of its 5 drivers within the first two rows. Marcus Ericsson will begin fifth after a run of 232.764 within the No. 8 Huski Chocolate Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, with 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan qualifying sixth at 232.372 within the No. 1 The American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
The third and fourth rows have been set throughout High 12 qualifying, the primary time-trial session of the afternoon.
Row three will include Pato O’Ward (seventh) within the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, Felix Rosenqvist (eighth) within the No. 7 Vuse Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet and Romain Grosjean (ninth) within the No. 28 DHL Honda. Method One veteran Grosjean would be the highest-starting and quickest “500” rookie within the discipline.
The fourth row options two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato (tenth) within the No. 51 Nurtec ODT Honda, 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Energy (eleventh) within the No. 12 Verizon Workforce Penske Chevrolet and seven-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champion and “500” rookie Jimmie Johnson (twelfth) within the No. 48 Carvana Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
Dixon opened the 2 rounds of qualifying right this moment by main the High 12 qualifying session, for the 12 quickest drivers throughout qualifying Saturday, with a four-lap common pace of 233.510. VeeKay was second at 233.429.
Johnson produced the largest present for the followers – and elicited essentially the most gasps from pit lane – throughout Lap 1 of his four-lap run. His automotive veered towards the SAFER Barrier in Flip 2, and he narrowly averted contact with a significant energy slide at 230 mph, maintaining management of his machine and ending his run.
“Simply looking for that proper stability within the race automotive,” Johnson stated. “These guys are so good at what they do. In these trickier circumstances, I simply want extra expertise.”
Up subsequent is a two-hour apply session for all 33 starters from 1-3 p.m. (ET) Monday, with reside protection on Peacock Premium and the INDYCAR Radio Community. Then it’s on to the ultimate apply earlier than the race, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Could 27 on Miller Lite Carb Day.
The 106th Indianapolis 500 introduced by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, Could 29, with reside protection beginning at 11 a.m. on NBC, Telemundo Deportes on Universo and the INDYCAR Radio Community.