Scott Dixon blazes to Indy 500 pole in record 234 mph run

INDIANAPOLIS — Scott Dixon used a wide ranging run of greater than 234 mph to put up the quickest Indianapolis 500 pole run in historical past. The New Zealander will lead the sphere to inexperienced in “The Best Spectacle in Racing” for the fifth time in his profession.

Thought-about the most effective driver of his era, Dixon turned 4 laps on Sunday at a median of 234.046 mph round Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His common broke Scott Brayton’s pole-winning document set in 1996 of 233.718 mph.

Arie Luyendyk holds the four-lap qualifying document of 236.986 mph, additionally completed in 1996, however not in a run for the pole. Which means Dixon’s qualifying run was the second-fastest in 106 runnings of probably the most prestigious race on the earth.

Dixon’s first lap was an eye-popping 234.437 mph and drew a roar from the followers. His second lap was 234.162 and spouse Emma bent over the pit wall in amazement, her arms overlaying her mouth. Dixon’s drop-off from there was was miniscule: his fourth and closing lap was 233.726 as his consistency gave Chip Ganassi Racing its seventh Indy 500 pole.

Dixon additionally began from the pole in 2008 when he scored his solely Indy 500 win, in addition to 2015, 2017 and final yr.

“That is what this place is about, the ups and downs that you’ve got simply in someday, it is loopy,” stated Dixon. His arms have been shaking following his first run earlier Sunday.

Ganassi superior all 5 of his drivers into the two-round qualifying shootout to find out the beginning order for the primary three rows for subsequent week’s race. Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson wanted an enormous save within the first flip of his first lap and did not advance out of the spherical of 12.

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However Dixon did, alongside together with his different three Honda-powered teammates. That made it Dixon, reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou, Marcus Ericsson and Tony Kanaan in a head-to-head “Quick Six” shootout in opposition to Chevrolet-powered teammates Ed Carpenter and Rinus VeeKay.

“That is what actual opponents need, true opponents need this,” Ganassi stated earlier than the session. “This can be a second made for champions.”

VeeKay on Saturday had posted the third-fastest qualifying run in observe historical past however did not have sufficient for Dixon’s massive, massive laps. Palou, who averaged 233.499, certified second alongside his teammate and VeeKay was third at 233.385.

Carpenter was fourth and adopted by Ericsson and Kanaan, who at 232.372 was the slowest of the ultimate six shootout. However even the slowest vehicles have been flying round Indy, which hasn’t seen speeds like these since 1996.

Kanaan’s lap would have been the eighth-fastest qualifying run within the document books written earlier than the drivers rewrote historical past this weekend.

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