The last Indianapolis 500 pole position for Team Penske came during Simon Pagenaud’s historic month of May sweep in 2019. For a team that owned 18 of them prior to Sunday afternoon it was a drought they were focused on ending in 2024.
Scott McLaughlin put that streak to rest in emphatic fashion as he set the fastest four-lap average in the history of the Indianapolis 500 blistering the 2.5-mile oval at an average speed of 234.240 mph. Will Power and Josef Newgarden round out the front row for the second, front row lockout of the year for Team Penske. Both McLaughlin and Power started on the front row at Barber Motorsports Park in the third round of the championship.
Newgarden, Power and McLaughlin were the last three drivers to take time in the Firestone Fast Six session of PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend, with each one wowing the strong crowd with the speed of their Chevrolets. Power – the most successful qualifier in the history of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES – looked to be in great shape for his first Indianapolis 500 pole when his first lap eclipsed the 235 mph mark. It was his Down Under teammate, however, who held the fastest cards in the deck to go into the history books at Indianapolis. It is McLaughlin’s record-66th pole position as a member of Team Penske.
Teams will have one, two-hour practice session tomorrow afternoon before breaking from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for media and community events. Drivers and teams will return to IMS on Friday, May 24 for Carb Day activities that include the Pit Stop Competition.
Practice – 1st
Top 12 Qualifying – 3rd
Fast Six Qualifying – 3rd
Practice 7 – 7th Top 12 Qualifying – 1st Fast Six Qualifying – 1st |
Practice – 11th
Top 12 Qualifying – 2nd
Fast Six Qualifying – 2nd