Dixon qualifies sixth fastest for Indy 500, McLaughlin 14th

Scott Dixon at Indianapolis
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

New Zealand driver Scott Dixon will start sixth on the grid at next weekend’s Indianapolis 500.

Dixon, whose one and only success at the brickyard was in 2008, had been on pole the last 2 years.

The 42 year old Chip Ganassi driver qualified for the top six shootout, but could only manage the sixth fastest average speed over the four qualifying laps.

He admits the car wasn’t at its best today.

“The run for us was just too on the nose, man. It was super loose, just scrubbing speed from the get go. But looking forward to next week. I think our race car has been very strong as have all the Ganassi cars have been. So, hopefully we can be in that situation (fighting for the win).”

Dixon’s teammate Alex Palou of Spain will be on pole, while fellow New Zealander Scott McLaughlin was 14th fastest.

Palou delivered Chip Ganassi Racing its third consecutive “500” pole with a four-lap average speed of 376.93 kmp. He became the first Spaniard to win the Indy 500 pole.

Rinus VeeKay will start second in the Ed Carpenter Racing entry after his four-lap average of 376.92 kph… the second-closest margin in terms of speed between the top two qualifiers in Indy 500 history.

Felix Rosenqvist earned the outside front-row starting spot after qualifying third in an Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

All three front-row starters were faster than the previous pole record of 376.66 set last year by Scott Dixon.

This is the fastest field in Indianapolis 500 history. The average speed for the 33-car field is 373.66, shattering the record of 371.79 set last year.