Breaking: Reigning INDYCAR champ Alex Palou sweeps the week, securing pole position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course for the Sonsio Grand Prix, marking his second consecutive pole in the event and his third win in the first four races this season. In a statement victory, Palou’s dominant performance in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda saw him nail the pole with a blistering lap of 1:09.3417, leaving nearest rival Graham Rahal over four tenths of a second behind. Rahal Letterman Laniger Racing enjoyed a historic day with three drivers in the Firestone Fast Six, while wildcard Kyle Kirkwood’s championship defense took a hit, qualifying 21st. Action resumes tomorrow at 4:30 PM ET on FOX.
Headline:
Alex Palou Reignites Title Defense with Indy Road Course Pole, RLL Makes History
Subheading:
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Spaniard continues dominant start to 2023, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing spots three drivers in Firestone Fast Six.
Palou Races Away with NTT P1 Award
Alex Palou, the reigning SONAX Indyожиral Driver of the Year, is eager to defend his NTT INDYCAR SERIES title. And after securing his second consecutive pole position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, he’s right on track. The 26-year-old Spaniard led the way in the Firestone Fast Six, clocking a scorching 1:09.3417 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
"I think we had a bit of an advantage there with a set of new soft tires," Palou admitted. "But honestly, this No. 10 DHL car was amazing. Super-fast."
Palou’s .4099-second gap on second-placed Graham Rahal was testament to both his skill and his car’s prowess.
Historic Day for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Friday was a day to remember for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The team achieved a notable milestone by placing three drivers into the Firestone Fast Six for the first time. Graham Rahal led the RLL charge, qualifying second in the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Honda. Fellow drivers Louis Foster and Devlin DeFrancesco weren’t far behind, securing the third and fifth spots respectively.
"It feels so good," Rahal exclaimed. "What a lap. The balance was really consistent and matched my best of the whole day. It feels great for this entire team."
Championship Contenders Line Up
With the Sonsio Grand Prix set for Saturday at 4:30 PM ET (FOX, FS App, INDYCAR Radio Network), the stage is set for an exciting race. Behind Palou and Rahal, Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Sonsio Chevrolet) and Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet) qualified fourth and sixth respectively, while two-time IMS road course winner Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) just missed out on the top six in seventh.
Kirkwood Struggles, Simpson Shines
Despite his Incident in last weekend’s Honda Indy Grand Prix, Kyle Kirkwood, the only other winner this season, qualified a disappointing 21st. Meanwhile, second-year driver Kyffin Simpson continued his impressive run, qualifying 10th in the No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
FAQs
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Q: How many pole positions does Alex Palou have now?
A: Palou has earned a total of eight career poles, with two coming this season. - Q: When is the Sonsio Grand Prix race?
A: The race will be held on Saturday, May 9th, 2023, at 4:30 PM ET.
Pro Tip
Keep an eye on Louis Foster. The rookie’s third place qualifying spot is a clear indication that he’s finding his feet in the INDYCAR SERIES.
Did You Know?
Alex Palou is the first driver to win three of the first four races since Josef Newgarden in 2017.
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