This afternoon’s Chevrolet Dual in Detroit Race 2 will feature one of the most tense and thrilling sights in racing: Alexander Rossi and Robert Wickens leading the field into Turn 1, side by side.
Rossi finished P3 in yesterday’s Race 1, and won the pole for Race 2 as the track dried up over the course of a rainy session Sunday morning in Detroit. Having seen what the track has to offer, Rossi looks forward to having the advantage of being out front to start the Verizon IndyCar Series race.
“It was very difficult to pass yesterday,” he told the IndyCar broadcast. “Starting on pole, having new reds because we didn’t use them this morning, is a great thing. We’re looking forward to hopefully having a strong race.”
To do so, he will have to face off against Wickens. The last time these two drivers went head-to-head off of a start on a street course, it ended with contact and the end of a race to win for Wickens at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
The rain-soaked first session saw cars running off and struggling to match the pace seen by Group B on the dryer concrete surface. Sebastien Bourdais ran his #18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda off of the track in the wet in Group A, but so did defending series champion Josef Newgarden in a dry Group B. The ensuing contact with the tire wall would end the session, naming Rossi the pole sitter.
Yesterday's race winner Scott Dixon will start P5, behind Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Ed Jones. Looking to improve on a rocky debut season with the legendary team, Jones boasts one podium finish despite a string of finishes towards the back of the field. Prime real estate on the starting grid shows great promise for the 23-year old English driver this afternoon.
Will Power marks the top qualifier for a Chevrolet, putting his #12 Team Penske machine P3 to start this afternoon. The engine supplier has struggled throughout the weekend to match the dominant pace of Honda.
“We’re happy that considering we were struggling a lot yesterday to be in the top six,” Power said. “I said to the guys if we start in the top four, now we have a chance to do something. That’s what we did.”
As for the 2018 Indianapolis 500 champion’s chances for today’s race,
“We’ll do our best, and see what we can give them.”
Top 5 starters Chevrolet Dual in Detroit Race 2
- Alexander Rossi – 1:33.3143
- Robert Wickens – 1:33.6605
- Will Power – 1:33.8295
- Ed Jones – 1:33.9256
- Scott Dixon – 1:33.9544
