INDYCAR. PALOU ON POLE IN DETROIT. GROSJEAN, 3 AND PAGENAUD,8

Nearly two weeks after taking pole at the flagship event of the season, the Indianapolis Indy 500, Alex Palou also took pole position in the Detroit Grand Prix.

And this, as the IndyCar returns to downtown Michigan after years of events at Belle Isle Park.

In the same place that had hosted Formula 1 years ago, the downtown district of the Renaissance Center, the Spaniard managed to beat a damn good Scott McLaughlin

While the Frenchman Romain Grosjean, despite contact with the barriers, managed to qualify for the final run and then finish the Fast Six in a good third place

In fourth place, the still fast Scott Dixon impressed even though the New Zealander, Chip Ganassi, used the hard tires to save a set of new soft tyres.

Fifth place for the recent new Indy winner, Josef Newgarden, followed by Marcus Ericsson.

So among this Top Six… three cars for Chip Ganassi, two for Penske but with Will Power just outside Q3, seventh and one for Andretti with Grosjean, in a day deemed difficult!

The other leading driver of the team, Kyle Kirkwood, found himself in the barriers in Q2. Felix Rosenqvist and Pato O’Ward also stopped in Q2.

Alexander Rossi was eliminated in Q1, while Marcus Armstrong qualified in the top 12.

To remember again the eighth place of the other Frenchman Simon Pagenaud of Team Meyer-shank

Difficulties again for Colton Herta, twenty-fourth but still ahead of Jack Harvey, Sting Ray Robb and Graham Rahal, still there, again ´Cinderella of the group, after the upheavals of Indy where he had already incredibly qualified… thirty-fourth and good last!

Competing in the Indy 500 only following the accident package during the tests!!!

Peter GRISWOLD

Photos: INDYCAR – TEAMS

THE STARTING GRID

1 – Alex Palou (Dallara-Honda) – Ganassi – 1’01″8592 – Q3
2 – Scott McLaughlin (Dallara-Chevy) – Penske – 1’02″1592 – Q3
3 – Romain Grosjean (Dallara-Honda) – Andretti – 1’02″2896 – Q3
4 – Scott Dixon (Dallara-Honda) – Ganassi – 1’02″4272 – Q3
5 – Josef Newgarden (Dallara-Chevy) – Penske – 1’02″5223 – Q3
6 – Marcus Ericsson (Dallara-Honda) – Ganassi – 1’02″6184 – Q3

7 – Will Power (Dallara-Chevy) – Penske – 1’02″1817 – Q2
8 – Simon Pagenaud (Dallara-Honda) – MSR – 1’02″1860 – Q2
9 – Felix Rosenqvist (Dallara-Chevy) – McLaren – 1’02″1937 – Q2
10 – Pato O’Ward (Dallara-Chevy) – McLaren – 1’02″2564 – Q2
11 – Marcus Armstrong (Dallara-Honda) – Ganassi – 1’02″2958 – Q2
12 – Kyle Kirkwood (Dallara-Honda) – Andretti – 1’04″6075 – Q2

I 13 – Alexander Rossi (Dallara-Chevy) – McLaren – 1’02″5714 – Q1
14 – Rinus VeeKay (Dallara-Chevy) – ECR – 1’02″1911 – Q1
15 – Conor Daly (Dallara-Chevy) – ECR – 1’02″9522 – Q1
16 – Callum Ilott (Dallara-Chevy) – Juncos – 1’02″2644 – Q1
17 – Devlin DeFrancesco (Dallara-Honda) – Andretti – 1’03″0017 – Q1
18 – Christian Lundgaard (Dallara-Honda) – RLL – 1’02″6495 – Q1
19 – Benjamin Pedersen (Dallara-Chevy) – Foyt – 1’03″1599 – Q1
20 – Agustin Canapino (Dallara-Chevy) – Juncos – 1’02″9071 – Q1
21 – David Malukas (Dallara-Honda) – Coyne – 1’03″2126 – Q1
22 – Santino Ferrucci (Dallara-Chevy) – Foyt – 1’02″9589 – Q1
23 – Helio Castroneves (Dallara-Honda) – MSR – 1’03″3879 – Q1
24 – Colton Herta (Dallara-Honda) – Andretti – 1’03″4165 – Q1
25 – Jack Harvey (Dallara-Honda) – RLL – 1’03″7728 – Q1
26 – Sting Ray Robb (Dallara-Honda) – Coyne – 1’03″7496 – Q1
27 – Graham Rahal (Dallara-Honda) – RLL – 1’03″8663 – Q1