DIXON BREAKS SPEED RECORD TO CLAIM INDY 500 POLE
Scott Dixon will start on pole in the Indianapolis 500 for the fifth time in his career after breaking a 26-year-old record.
Rolling out last in the Fast Six, the six-time IndyCar Series champion hit a four-lap average of 234.046mph in the #9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, besting Scott Brayton’s benchmark of 233.718mph from 1996 on the way to earning pole.
Everyone at Indianapolis Motor Speedway knew that Dixon was on a special run from the first lap, as he chalked up a 234.437 followed by a 234.162, 233.859 and finally a 233.726.
In a day for the history books, Dixon also edged one pole closer to all-time Indianapolis 500 pole record holder Rick Mears and became the first consecutive pole winner since Ed Carpenter in 2013-14.
“That’s what this place is about. It’s so amazing, the ups and downs that you have just in one day, it’s crazy,” Dixon said.
“Massive thank you to all the fans for coming out it’s so good to see everybody here in the grandstands.
“Thank you so much to the team, the PNC number nine crew and Honda they brought it today.
“Just so happy for everybody, to get five of our cars into the Fast 12 and then four into the six.”
It was indeed one of Dixon’s teammates who ran runner-up in Qualifying, Alex Palou coming in second with an average of 233.499mph. The Spaniard cracked 234mph in lap 1 but could not maintain that pace.
While the reigning series champion was on pole for a brief moment, he will start from second next weekend.
Ed Carpenter Racing duo Rinus Veekay and Ed Carpenter were third and fourth fastest, clocking averages of 233.385mph and 233.08mph, respectively.
Incredibly, another two Chip Ganassi machines rounded out the Fast Six, Marcus Ericsson and Tony Kanaan driving their #8 and #1 cars to fifth and sixth in qualifying.
Pato O’Ward just missed out on the Fast Six and will start from the third row after setting an average of 232.705mph.
He will be joined on the third row by Arrow McLaren SP teammate Felix Rosenqvist and ex-F1 Andretti Autosport steerer Romain Grosjean.
Takuma Sato fell back into the pack after dominating practice throughout the week, qualifying 10th fastest in his #51 Dale Coyne Racing Honda.
Will Power and Jimmie Johnson rounded out the Fast 12 runners, giving Chip Ganassi Racing five cars in the top 12 positions.
You can watch all the Indy 500 action live and ad-free on Stan Sport.
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