Will Power has secured pole position for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, as Penske once again dominated proceedings to create a 1-2-3 lock-out at the top.
Despite ominous cloud cover throughout the day the rain managed to hold off for the all-important qualifying session, allowing a dry session to be completed around the Barber Motorsports Park.
Although Honda-powered cars ended their respective groups fastest in the first round of qualifying, it was Penske who shone during round two and the all-important Firestone Fast Six as Chevrolet-power once again shone in qualifying.
Power will start the 90-lap race alongside team-mate and Long Beach pole winner Helio Castroneves, after the Brazilian racer completed a late improvement to rise ahead of reigning champion Simon Pagenaud.
The Frenchman will still start the race from P3, after making a slight mistake on his final lap and running wide on the exit of Turn 5.
Scott Dixon ended qualifying as the fastest Honda-powered driver in fourth, with the four-time champion unable to question Penske’s authority at the top despite ending his group fastest in round one.
Ryan Hunter-Reay and Long Beach race winner James Hinchcliffe complete the third row of the grid, with all three Honda-powered cars opting to complete just one flying lap in the Firestone Fast Six.
Josef Newgarden was the only Penske driver unable to progress into the Firestone Fast Six, with the 2015 Barber race winner forced to settle for seventh.
Mikhail Aleshin’s competitiveness continued throughout qualifying, with the Russian racer set to start from P8, alongside Chip Ganassi Racing’s Max Chilton.
The former Formula 1 racer steadily improved throughout the day, after a troubled start to the weekend which resulted in a spin in practice two on Friday.
Ganassi team-mate Tony Kanaan rounded out the top ten, just ahead of Dale Coyne Racing’s Ed Jones.
The rookie, who has finished the opening two races in the top ten, has continued to look impressive and managed to out-qualify championship leader Sebastian Bourdais who was forced to settle for a lowly P12.
However, the four-time champion is no stranger to rising through the order.
Both in St. Petersburg and Long Beach Bourdais rose through the order to finish in the top two, and will be looking at such silver linings after qualifying at Barber.
