Friday afternoon saw the field of 27 IndyCar drivers take to World Wide Technology Raceway in order to sort out the starting gird for Saturday’s race.
The heat was nearly unbearable and the summer sun heated the egg-shaped oval up to 126 degrees Fahrenheit, but that did not put a damper on the speeds.
When the whole field had completed their runs, it was Scott McLaughlin that was at the top of the timesheets.
READ MORE: IndyCar Gateway – Full Qualifying Results
The Kiwi completed both laps in 50.0079 seconds total and averaged 179.972 MPH in his Team Penske Chevy.
Last year, McLaughlin started tenth and finished fifth, and he will look to use his advantageous starting position to earn his second oval victory shortly after his first ever at Iowa.
Felix Rosenqvist held the provisional pole for a good portion of the afternoon, but was bumped from the top spot by McLaughlin.
The Swede’s team-mate David Malukas nearly matched his time and qualified with the third best time, but he will start the race in second once grid penalties are applied.
Rosenqvist will start nine places lower due to taking to many engines over the course of the season, and will take the green flag from the fifth row.
Josef Newgarden and Will Power set the fourth and fifth fastest times, making for a lockout of the first couple rows by Team Penske and Meyer Shank Racing.
The current points leader Alex Palou qualified as the seventh fastest driver but has his own grid penalty and will start from 16th, incidentally the same position that Scott Dixon started from when he won this race last year.
Colton Herta was looking really fast for the first lap of his run, but then lost control while travelling through Turn 1 on his second.
The #26 Andretti Global Honda stepped out right in the middle of the turn and backed the attenuator square into the outer SAFER barrier.
Herta lamented that they were just a hair too aggressive, and will look to rebound quickly ahead of Saturday’s race.
Jack Harvey suffered a hybrid issue on his out lap and was not able to complete his run. He will start from the back of the field.
Harvey’s team-mate Katherine Legge also did not make a qualifying attempt because her car did not pass inspection.
The Dale Coyne Racing crew will reset and get back out for the final practice session this evening ahead of tomorrow’s 260-lap race.
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