A dire week off-track for Penske took a turn for the better as two of their drivers claimed the front row of the grid for the Grand Prix of Alabama.
Scott McLaughlin, who fell to 29th and last in the championship after his retroactive disqualification from the season-opener, snatched pole position by a tenth of a second. But team mate Will Power was left to rue an error on his final lap which could have kept him ahead of McLaughlin.The third Penske of Josef Newgarden, who was disqualified along with McLaughlin, failed to make the cut for the Fast Six and will start from eighth on the grid.
Christian Lundgaard looked like a strong bet for pole position after consistently setting the pace in the Fast 12 round. He fell shy of the Penske duo by a tenth of a second and will share the second row of the grid with McLaren’s Pato O’Ward. Felix Rosenqvist took fifth ahead of Marcus Armstrong, the sole Ganassi driver to reach the final round after all five of their cars were drawn together in the first phase.
Alex Palou set a rapid pace in that opening session but surprisingly went no further than the fast 12. Nether did last year’s pole-winner Romain Grosjean, who was quickest on the primary tyre compound but couldn’t make a big enough step forward on the softer alternates. Graham Rahal was frustrated to by the last driver eliminated at this stage, as he had enough fuel for another lap but his team neglected to tell him.
Scott Dixon, who was elevated to the championship lead by the double Penske disqualification, didn’t make it beyond the first round, missing the cut by a tenth of a second. Colton Herta also fell in the first group stage.
O’Ward was the only McLaren driver to continue beyond the opening round. Theo Pourchaire will start his second IndyCar race from 24th on the grid, three places behind newcomer Luci Ghiotto, who only drove his car for the first time yesterday.
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| Pos. | No. | Driver | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Scott McLaughlin | 1’05.9490 |
| 2 | 12 | Will Power | 1’06.0460 |
| 3 | 45 | Christian Lundgaard | 1’06.0818 |
| 4 | 5 | Pato O’Ward | 1’06.2940 |
| 5 | 60 | Felix Rosenqvist | 1’06.4524 |
| 6 | 11 | Marcus Armstrong | 1’06.9022 |
| 7 | 15 | Graham Rahal | 1’06.0942 |
| 8 | 2 | Josef Newgarden | 1’06.2908 |
| 9 | 27 | Kyle Kirkwood | 1’06.2959 |
| 10 | 10 | Alex Palou | 1’06.3013 |
| 11 | 77 | Romain Grosjean | 1’06.3526 |
| 12 | 66 | Tom Blomqvist | 1’06.3871 |
| 13 | 9 | Scott Dixon | 1’06.1425 |
| 14 | 20 | Christian Rasmussen | 1’06.4803 |
| 15 | 26 | Colton Herta | 1’06.1481 |
| 16 | 7 | Alexander Rossi | 1’06.5054 |
| 17 | 14 | Santino Ferrucci | 1’06.2751 |
| 18 | 28 | Marcus Ericsson | 1’06.5846 |
| 19 | 8 | Linus Lundqvist | 1’06.2825 |
| 20 | 78 | Agustin Canapino | 1’06.6706 |
| 21 | 51 | Luca Ghiotto | 1’06.4788 |
| 22 | 18 | Jack Harvey | 1’06.7969 |
| 23 | 4 | Kyffin Simpson | 1’06.5267 |
| 24 | 6 | Theo Pourchaire | 1’06.9052 |
| 25 | 41 | Sting Robb | 1’06.8404 |
| 26 | 30 | Pietro Fittipaldi | 1’07.4920 |
| 27 | 21 | Rinus VeeKay | 1’07.7392 |
IndyCar
- Pourchaire leaves Super Formula to take Malukas’ McLaren IndyCar seat
- Penske suspends four staff after double IndyCar disqualification
- Petty officialdom or deserved decisions? Five drivers stripped of wins in 2024
- McLaren releases Malukas from contract after missing opening races
- McLaren left reeling after “abysmal” Barber weekend
RandomMallard
27th April 2024, 22:04
[Insert Push-To-Pole joke here]
Retired (@jeff1s)
28th April 2024, 1:03
Can’t help but think that in-lap system is smart af.
Close top12 session!
Tristan
28th April 2024, 11:51
Just caught the highlights, what a cool format. Less cars on track, more time to actually watch them lap, and the live timing allows you to see the drivers actual talent and where they are gaining/losing in each corner. F1 should copy the format wholesale, it actually showcases good driving.
Dominique (@tryneplague)
28th April 2024, 12:21
Would be Nice to have a qualyfying grid instant of having to go to another site to see it.
Lewisham Milton
28th April 2024, 19:01
If you can’t be arised to read it before Prosting it, neither can we.
Dominique (@tryneplague)
28th April 2024, 20:44
No, there was no grid when I read the article on the mobile version. Now on PC I can see it.. don’t know why it wasn’t there before.. All good now :)
bull mello (@bullmello)
29th April 2024, 1:48
I like this track.
Would be nice to see F1 race there.
Better than staying racing on Miami or LV.