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Power brings a ‘Penske Perfect’ pole run to WWTR

Another chapter in Team Penske’s dominance at World Wide Technology Raceway was written in qualifying on Saturday as Will Power captured pole position at the 1.25-mile oval with the No. 12 Chevy. IndyCar’s all-time record holder for poles was the only driver to crack the 180mph barrier on the path to securing his 71st first-place starting spot and the 700th for Roger Penske throughout all of his various racing programs.

“I sent it, a lot,” Power said. “I knew you would have to. It’s been a while since I’ve had a pole. Chevy did a great job. Good power, and hopefully we can execute in the race. Man, it would be awesome to get a win here.”

The session was a celebration for Penske as a whole with Scott McLaughlin taking second in the No. 3 Chevy (179.783mph), Penske technical affiliate AJ Foyt Racing, which landed in fourth with David Malukas in the No. 4 Chevy (179.079mph), and Penske’s Josef Newgarden who placed fifth in the No. 2 Chevy (178.910mph). Splitting the Penskes was Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward in third with the No. 5 Chevy (179.190mph) to give the Bowtie a lockout of the top five.

“Great run from Will, great run for the team,” McLaughlin said. “Obviously you want to be on pole yourself, but when you have two cars smoking a 180mph top speed average, pretty awesome. So proud of the team.”

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Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong, whose team is in a technical alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing, was fastest among all Hondas and all Ganassi-related entries in sixth with the No. 66 car (178.754mph).

Using a two-lap average to set the field, Alexander Rossi was fastest among the first 15 drivers to run after posting a 177.996mph in the No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevy, and then Newgarden rolled out to do what he does. When the run was over, Newgarden’s No. 2 Chevy was fastest and by nearly 1mph at 178.910mph for Penske. Malukas took to the track and demoted the WWTR king with an average of 179.079mph in the No. 4 Chevy.

MSR’s Armstrong was next and went to third at the time with a 178.754mph in the No. 66 Honda. Colton Herta followed and went to fourth in the No. 26 Andretti Global Honda with a 179.511mph and watched as McLaughlin rocketed to first with an average of 179.783mph in the No. 3 Chevy.

Scott Dixon went after McLaughlin but was nowhere near his pace with a 178.018mph in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. MSR’s Felix Rosenqvist had the next opportunity to go for pole and secured fifth at the time in the No. 60 Honda with a 178.696mph. Power was next to take his shot at McLaughlin and the No. 12 Chevy was a rocket with a 180.329mph to take the lead.

Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard qualified 11th in his No. 7 Chevy and it was down to three drivers to try and knock Power off of pole. Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood was disappointed to average 178.229mph in the No. 27 Honda to go eighth, and he was followed by O’Ward in the No. 5 Chevy who leapt to third with a 179.190mph. Championship leader Alex Palou was the final challenger and wound the No. 10 Ganassi Honda up to ninth with a 178.381mph run.

Pole to Power.

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