Defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou in the No.10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda is just 4 points off the championship lead of Will Power after securing the P1 Award for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca after recording a 01:07.1465s and starts the race with Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global beside him giving Honda Racing Corporation North America a front row lock-out.
Speaking following the action, Palou said:
“It was really tough, really tight all qualifying to get to the Fast 12 and then the Fast Six. “It was really tricky with track conditions. As soon as there was some wind, you couldn’t really finish the lap because there was no grip.
“Really happy. The car was on rails today, so the best starting position for tomorrow.”
Felix Rosenqvist returned to form. The Swede started the race in third place for Meyer Shank Racing with a time of 01:07.2917s, just ahead of Colton Herta, who made it a Honda 1,2,3,4. Alexander Rossi started his home race from fifth place for Arrow McLaren, ahead of Christian Lundgaard, who did a great job for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, starting the race from sixth with a time of 01:07.5112s.
Scott McLaughlin starts the race from seventh place just ahead of Romain Grosjean had a great session for Juncos Hollinger Racing who starts the race from eighth place just ahead of Pato O’Ward while Scott Dixon rounds out the top ten in the No.9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
Marcus Armstrong starts the race from 11th with a time of 01:07.6143s while David Malukas makes his first start of the season from 11th place for Meyer Shank Racing with a time of 01:07.8422s who rounds out the top twelve.
Agustin Canapino was 13th just ahead of Josef Newgarden who starts the race from 14th place with a time of 01:07.7246s while championship leader Will Power starts the race from 15th place just ahead of Linus Lindqvist while Santino Ferrucci starts the race from 17th with a time of 01:08.0344s while Marcus Ericsson starts the race from 18th place just ahead of Graham Rahal while Rinus VeeKay rounds out the top twenty for Ed Carpenter Racing.
Christian Rasmussen starts the race from 21st just ahead of Kyffin Simpson while Nolan Siegel starts his first race for Arrow McLaren from 23td place with a time of 01:08.6785s.
Pietro Fittipaldi starts the race from 24th place just ahead of Sting Ray Robb and Jack Harvey while Luca Ghiotto rounds out the grid in 27th place.