Scott McLaughlin dethrones Pala as fastest pole hitter in 500 history

ANDI’m New Zealand Scott McLaughlin He is the driver who will replace Alex Palou in the list of winners. Indianapolis 500 pole. One of Penske asserted the superiority of his car and its engine Chevroletclearly superior in qualifying conditions, score your first pole position at Indy 500.

The classification of the 108th edition will go down in history Penske hat trickwith McLaughlin in first place (with average 234,220 mph, fastest speed in history surpassing Palu’s record), followed by Will Power (233,917) and Newgarden (233,808), that is, the “Captain” team Roger Penske (then owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar) could not 1988.

Troika Penske (singing)

McLaughlin succeeded more than half of this success in the first stage on Sunday, Fast 12where he managed to outperform his two teammates, Will Power And Joseph Newgarden. With these words he made sure to leave them behind and have your link…in addition to confirming what everyone had already feared: the fight for pole would be fratricidal.

Because not even Alex Rossi, with the fastest McLaren of the four, was able to withstand Hurricane Penske… despite giving everything he had in the run. His first lap 234.062 mph This was promising… but subsequently there were no consistent turns. Despite this, his score of 233.090 was slightly higher than his record Fast 12

.

Newgardenreigning 500 mile race winner upped the ante by tying the chain two laps above 234 mph finish with an average speed of 233.808 mph. power (best qualifying time in IndyCar, but without an oval pole) also started with 234… but was only able to hold it for one lap. However, was more consistent and surpassed the American at just a tenth of a mile per hour.

But McLaughlin had no intention of forgiving. the opportunity of a lifetime in the nearly four years he spent in IndyCar. Kiwi signed “Monster Run” from 234,526 – 234,371 – 234,168. and 233,816 mph to drive the most prestigious pole in the world…and the fastest in history: 234,220 mph. Just 0.003 mph faster than Palu in 2023.

The Penskes were the stars… but they were overshadowed by the 2021 NASCAR champion, Kyle Larsonranked fifth after signing historic classification in his debut behind the wheel of an IndyCar. In that Fast 6 had the luxury of surpassing such a classification specialist as Santino Ferrucci (AJ Voyt).

O’Ward faded into the background

The first sieve Fast 12left some surprises… though Today’s conditions were somewhat different Compared to yesterday, there was more heat on the track and, at the same time, less grab. First: classification by Santino FerrucciThe driver here is always very fast… but he had to beat, for example, McLaren… and he did it.

He student of the legendary AJ Foyt hammer the first nail into the coffin Patrick O’Ward (McLaren) and then it would be amazing Kyle Larsonwith the same car as the Mexican, the one that would bury the pole position options “Pato”, who starts in the center of the third row, in eighth position.

. Oh… and only two Sling classified for Fast 12… penultimate and penultimate.

Unusual bumping day

The medal at the 108th Indy 500 went to McLaughlin and Nolan Siegel’s bile. Young man rookie American (19 years old) couldn’t escape my fate…which was recorded at the fifth training session, when smashed his Dale Coyne against the wall curve 2.

From then on he had to deal with his inexperience and additional complexity of piloting backup car, with settings not optimized for the oval. Despite everything, it was he’s about to be saved by an incredible mistake… an Indy 500 winner.

Marcus Ericsson is up a lap early complete his first attempt… and got into trouble. But his team, Andretti, knew how to play their cards. First he did unauthorized work in an Ericsson car for cancel your terrible first time and block the others, who could not leave until they made an attempt. So they hurried to session time limitcar cooling and play everything on one map. And they scored 230,027 points, which saved them.

Siegelfalling into the selection pit at that moment, I had to get out and play all or nothing. And nothing came of it, because he found himself against the wall again… saving Graham Rahal (which was liquidated last year) has already Catherine Legge (Dale Coyne), who will become the only woman to compete in the 108th Indy 500.

Starting tomorrow in career mode

Indianapolis 500 2024 They turn the page with the end of the classification. Starting tomorrow, pilots will return to career modewith engines again of reduced power and penultimate practice (7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) to prepare for Sunday’s meeting.