INDIANAPOLIS — From the agony of defeat to the thrill of victory. Minutes after Graham Rahal was shockingly bumped from the field for next Sunday’s 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 (11 a.m. ET, NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network), Alex Palou set the fastest four-lap pole speed ever at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in going 234.217 mph in his No. 10 Dallara-Honda.
He did so as the third qualifier of the Firestone Fast Six Shootout with a first lap in excess of 235 mph (235.131 mph). His second lap was 234.399 mph. The third on was 233.930 mph and the fourth and final lap at 233.414 mph.
That narrowly got the job done.
“Yeah, it’s been amazing for the 10 car, honestly,” Palou said of scoring his second career NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole. “This start of the season, especially the month of May, couldn’t be better with the GMR Grand Prix and obviously the pole today. We knew we had a fast car since the beginning. We had to take advantage of that. Yeah, enjoying my time here.”
He had to sweat out three more qualifiers, but none was as close as the next one in line, Rinus VeeKay. The Ed Carpenter Racing driver turned in an opening lap of 235.019 mph in his No. 21 Dallara-Chevrolet. His second lap was 234.403 mph. He was close and even picked it up over Palou over the final two laps in going 233.982 mph on Lap 3 and 233.444 mph on the final lap. However, the first two lap advantage went to Palou and it was narrowly enough.
Palou beat VeeKay by just .006 mph over four laps which was second best in the 107 year history of this race. It trails only the 2012 year for which Ryan Briscoe won the pole at 226.484 mph while James Hinchcliffe was second at 226.481 (.003).
“Yeah, it was very close. Wow, very happy, but also a bit bummed,” VeeKay said. “We had that shot, and I wish we could have done it. It would have been so great for the team. But also I’m bummed to be starting the Indy 500 second.
“Not bad, definitely, but yeah, I think it just has to sink in a little bit. What is in my head now is I lost, but no, I will enjoy this one.”
This is the second straight year that Palou and VeeKay will share the front row here. A year ago, Palou started second and was narrowly beat by Scott Dixon for the pole. VeeKay was third.
This year, each slides over a spot with VeeKay noting that this is his best start here but also his third straight front row as well. He’s trending over to a pole next year.
“It’s my best starting position so far in the 500, which fourth, third, third and second, we all know what comes in my car number after second, and that’s a 1,” he continued.
“Just very proud of the team, also. We had a tough morning, kind of went downhill for a bit, and we still — the team still made it happen. The only thing I had to do was stay flat for four laps, and the ECR Bitnile crew gave me the best possible car for this moment.”
Felix Rosenqvist will start third in his No. 6 Dallara-Chevrolet (234.114 mph). Santino Ferrucci (233.661 mph), Pato O’Ward (233.158 mph) and Dixon (233.151 mph) rounded out the Fast Six.
Each advanced out of the Fast 12 while Alexander Rossi (233.110 mph), Takuma Sato (233.098 mph), Tony Kanaan (233.076 mph), Marcus Ericsson (232.889 mph), rookie Benjamin Pedersen (232.671 mph) and Will Power (232.635 mph) were each eliminated in the opening round on Sunday.
Palou Learned From Last Year
Alex Palou knew he didn’t have much for Scott Dixon to win last year’s pole for the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500. However, he also knew that he’d learn a lot in that moment to use if he ever got back. That was the defining moment to which allowed Palou to give Chip Ganassi Racing their eighth career Indy 500 pole award.
“Last year, we were really close, learned how we could go be more aggressive if we were in that position again, and lucky if we were in that position again today, we took it,” Palou said.
Palou last year, ran a four-lap average of 233.499 mph in his No. 10 Dallara-Honda. It was at the time the second fastest pole speed in Indianapolis Motor Speedway history.
However, he knew though that it would only be short lived. While we were 5 of the 6 qualifiers in during last year’s thrilling Fast 12 Shootout, Palou also knew that his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate of Dixon was up next.
“There was not a lot of nerves,” Palou said after his run a year ago. “I knew he was going to get it. Everybody knew. He is the man here. It was like, okay. To be honest, Chip Ganassi Racing team had a great job having five cars in the Fast 12, four in the Fast 6.”
Dixon set a new pole record of 234.046 mph in his No. 9 Dallara-Honda. Palou was right. He had nothing for him.
The Spaniard also said that if it was anyone other than Dixon being him, he’d have been more confident but when it’s the man dubbed the “Ice Man” he knew that he was now likely going to be starting on the Middle of Row 1 instead of the inside.
“I guess it would be different if there was another driver behind, but when it’s Scott Dixon, maybe you are a bit more scared,” Palou continued. “So obviously, seeing that number, it was amazing. I thought my four laps run were fast, but we were not fast enough, so, yeah, it’s okay.
“My car was really good. I think my best car was doing Fast 6, so I was super comfortable. I think I did everything I had. I kind of wish that Scott, knowing that he had already four pole laps here, he could have gave me one, but he doesn’t share much. We’ll try and get it next year.”
Boy did he ever. Palou went 235.131 mph on the opening lap of his Fast Six Shootout run and ended up at 234.217 mph which topped Dixon as the fastest pole speed ever now.
“Amazing. Last year we were really close,” he said after earning the pole for next Sunday’s 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 (11 a.m. ET, NBC, INDYCAR Radio Network). “It was really close last year. We lost it against Dixon, which he did an amazing four-lap run. This year we knew it was going to be even closer against these two guys. They were really fast all month.
“We went aggressive. It worked this time. Super proud.
“Been a good month of May so far.”
Palou won the GMR Grand Prix last weekend. He won the pole for the Indy 500 this weekend. Can he do what Simon Pagenaud did in 2019 and get a clean sweep of the Month of May in Indianapolis?
“We know that this time doesn’t come very often,” Palou said on why he was so emotional in his celebration. “We celebrated last week because it was a big win, and today we were the best on track, so we had to celebrate.
“We couldn’t celebrate last year, and we don’t know if we’re going to be able to celebrate next week.
“Yeah, when there’s chances like that, especially nowadays in INDYCAR, you have to celebrate. You could see on everybody, it was not just me, that I lost my voice, which maybe it was too much, but I’m Spanish, so…
“You could see on every mechanic, every engineer, even Julian, my engineer, that — he’s really quiet — when we win, he’s normally like yeah, that was a good race, good job. But he was super excited today. It means a lot. It’s a big deal. It’s the pole for the Indy 500.
“It’s not the win for the race, but it’s as best we could do today.”
VeeKay Hopeful This Turns Season Around
For the 11th straight year, Ed Carpenter Racing had a driver in the Pole Day Shootout. However, for just the second time since 2017, boss Ed Carpenter won’t be in it. Instead, the for the fourth straight year, it was Rinus VeeKay.
Without a teammate to utilize, VeeKay was left a still remarkable second in Sunday’s Fast Six Shootout which sees the Dutch driver now have three straight front row starting spots here.
“I think it definitely helped out like to have a teammate in there,” VeeKay told me when I asked if it was a detriment that he was one of just two drivers without a teammate in the Shootouts today. “It’s always nice to have someone with the same setup, same exact car, do a run before and making some little tweaks.
“But yeah, I wish Ed was in there and I could have battled with Ed or Conor. But I think for the underdog car in there, it was nice to have a good shot at it and almost hitting the bull’s eye.”
VeeKay lost the pole on the opening lap. Alex Palou went 235.131 mph on Lap 1. VeeKay was at 235.019 mph. On Lap 2, Palou went 234.399 mph. VeeKay was 234.403 mph. On Lap 3, VeeKay once again had the advantage 233.982 mph compared to 233.930 mph. Same for the fourth and final lap 233.444 vs. 234.217 mph.
It was Lap 1 that lost it.
“Yeah, it was very close. Wow, very happy, but also a bit bummed,” VeeKay said. “We had that shot, and I wish we could have done it. It would have been so great for the team. But also I’m bummed to be starting the Indy 500 second.
“Not bad, definitely, but yeah, I think it just has to sink in a little bit. What is in my head now is I lost.”
The loss is still better to be the first loser than where they’ve been this season prior.
There’s no doubt about it, the start to the 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season hasn’t gone the way that fourth year driver Rinus VeeKay had expected it to. He sits mired back in 18th in points after five races on the heels of finishes of 21st, 11th, 26th, 16th and 13th respectively.
“Like a four out of 10, not happy,” VeeKay told me on Wednesday morning to grade the start of the season for him. “I’m happy with my performance, but we’re just not there as a team. We are just struggling a bit to keep up with the other guys.”
Now that he’s on the front row, how much does that change?
“Yeah, definitely,” he told me. “This is the best qualifying result for the team since I’ve joined, so definitely not bad, and yeah, just very, very happy for the team that we got this, and I think it definitely helps morale, not only for me but for all the three car crews.
“I will enjoy this one, and it’s my best starting position so far in the 500, which fourth, third, third and second, we all know what comes in my car number after second, and that’s a 1.”
VeeKay is most proud of the team that they were able to rebound from a mechanical failure in practice to salvage the engine enough to provide him with an opportunity to still win the pole hours later.
“Just very proud of the team, also. We had a tough morning, kind of went downhill for a bit, and we still — the team still made it happen,” he says. “The only thing I had to do was stay flat for four laps, and the ECR Bitnile crew gave me the best possible car for this moment.”
Rosenqvist Happy For Front Row Start, Bummed With How Qualifying Went
When Felix Rosenqvist first joined the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, he would have been floored to earn a front row starting spot in the Indianapolis 500. He crashed in Turn 2 during practice for his rookie year back in 2019 and qualified 29th (227.297 mph) in the same No. 10 Dallara-Honda that Alex Palou won the pole with on Sunday.
Four years later, Rosenqvist just had a four-lap average of 234.114 mph in his No. 6 Dallara-Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren Racing. That’s nearly seven mph quicker than his rookie year and puts him on the front row for the first time of his five years career thus far.
“It’s mixed feelings right now,” Rosenqvist admitted. “I think overall it’s a very good day for us.”
What makes Rosenqvist bummed is the fact that he was fastest on opening day of Indy 500 Time Trials on Saturday. He was then fastest in the Fast 12 Shootout. The pole was shaping up to be his.
Until it wasn’t.
“I think these two (Alex Palou, Rinus VeeKay) found something in the Fast Six that we didn’t find,” Rosenqvist continued. “We felt like we were kind of on top of it going into it. We were not confident, but we felt like we put the best possible scenario on the car, and big thanks to all the group for Arrow McLaren and Team Chevy, as well. I think the whole team came together for this final run where we threw everything we had at it, and we missed out, and it’s the second time in not so long I’m sitting here and missing pole with I think one or two thousandths. It’s what it is, but overall we have to be proud to have all the cars in the top 12. It’s just been a phenomenal month for us so far.
“But yeah, big congrats to Alex and also to Rinus. That was a hell of a run. We couldn’t match that today.”
Rosenqvist said that he felt pretty much on his warmup lap that it didn’t feel as sporty as it did earlier in the Fast 12.
“Obviously we didn’t change a bunch on the car. We were pretty sure what we put on was the best we’d done all month,” he said. “But man, it’s tight, and if you don’t get it 10 out of 10, there’s going to be two other boys sitting next to you with better lap times.
“I think anyway, it’s just been incredible, and just to have the privilege to drive a car that looks that good and is that fast I think is — yeah, it makes it pretty cool.”
Rosenqvist qualified 14th in both 2020 and again in 2021 before being eighth last year. He finished a career best fourth at Indy a year ago and is hopeful of gaining three more spots on race day.
Dixon’s Pole Reign Comes To An End
Scott Dixon has almost every accolade one could get at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Most laps led, fastest pole speed, you name it and he’s done it. While he has just one Indy 500 victory, he does have five poles though. That ranks him second on the all-time Indy 500 poles list. His next pole will tie him with Rick Mears for most all-time.
He was hopeful that would come on Sunday. Dixon was in the Fast 12 Shootout as he qualified twice on Saturday with his best four-lap average being 233.375 mph. That was good enough for fifth.
He advanced to the Fast Six, but in that round, he was slowest (233.151 mph). Dixon will start sixth in his No. 9 Dallara-Honda in his 21st Indy 500 start.
It ends a reign of not only two straight poles as he was looking to become the first driver in the 107 year history of this event to win three consecutive poles here, but also three straight front row starting spots too.
This is his worst start since 2019 to where he qualified 18th and finished 17th.
Power Still Shutout Of Indy 500 Pole
No one has won as many NTT INDYCAR SERIES poles in the history of the sport than Will Power. The Team Penske driver is a 68-time pole winner as he set that new record in the 2022 season finale at Laguna Seca.
With two series championships, a Indy 500 triumph and now being the pole king, what more is there left to accomplish for the 42-year-old? Well an Indy 500 pole for starters.
Despite 68 career poles, none of which have come in the year’s biggest race. He’s now 0-for-16.
“Man we we’ve done everything we can to get qualifying speed there’s not at the end of the day, you’re at the mercy of the speed of the car simply,” Power told me. “Then you’ve just got to put downforce to match.
“Honestly, it has you have to have the car. You have to have that that you have to have cars capable of doing it then it’s up to you to how much you want to trim. But unless you have that you just simply so you know, just at the mercy of what you want what car it is. Because very finicky here, you can just have a fast car and it can be the best of the team. They’re all built the same. One just slightly faster. So I would be waiting to have that car for many years. I’ve had it been close then. Yeah. Been on the front row. But yeah, yeah, it’d be nice.
“Like to get for flat out lap so team has worked I’d say last three years extremely hard on that.”
Power was in the Fast 12 Shootout again, but like last year, was an early exit. Power went 232.635 mph as the opening qualifier and will start next Sunday’s 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on the Outside of Row 4. He was on the Middle of the row last year when he started 11th and finished 15th.
Power’s last four starts here are now 22nd, 32nd, 11th and 12th. He had 11 straight top nine starts prior.
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