By: Spencer Neff
September 9, 2023
Qualifying Results Provisional Starting Lineup
Competing with Arrow McLaren for the final time this weekend, Felix Rosenqvist became the eighth driver to win multiple NTT P1 Awards in 2023 (Texas Motor Speedway).
On a repaved WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the driver of the No. 6 earned his fifth career pole. The Varmao, Sweden native will start the 95-lap Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey from the front of the 27-car field.
Before today, Rosenqvist’s best career start in three attempts on the 2.238-mile, 11-turn permanent road course in Salinas, California was eighth (2022) where he earned his best Laguna Seca finish (4th).
Rosenqvist, confirmed on Tureday as the 2024 driver for Meyer Shank Racing’s No. 60 will look to end 2023 with Arrow McLaren’s first victory of the season.
The 2019 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year is still in search of his second win> His first and only INDYCAR victory to date was at Road America Race 2 in 2020, 57 races ago.
Round 3-Fast Six
Rosenqvist (1m06.6416-120.897) topped the six-minute final round session to earn pole by .0097 of a second to Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin.
Chevrolet has their second front row lockout of 2023 (Nashville).
On Row 2 is Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Christian Lundgaard, the fastest Honda, along with Mclaughlin’s teammate Josef Newgarden. Row 3 features the Chip Ganassi Racing duo of Scott Dixon and 2023 INDYCAR Champion Alex Palou, who looks to end his second title campaign with a repeat of his 2022 victory on this course.
Round 2-Fast 12
Lundgaard (1m06.4610-121.226 mph) posted the best time further obliterating the track record while leading the Fast Six. He was joined by McLaughlin, Palou, Rosenqvist, Dixon and Newgarden.
Missing out on the Fast Six were Juri Vips, Rinus VeeKay, Will Power, Romain Grosjean, Santino Ferrucci and Pato O’Ward-finishing seventh through 12th.
In his second career start, Vips was the lone rookie in the Top 12. O’Ward was penalized under Rule 8.3.7(.1)-
“If a Car interferes with the Qualifications attempt of another Car other than through a Red Condition:
If the violation occurs during Segment One (1) or Segment Two (2), the Carās best two (2) timed laps during that segment shall be disallowed and the Car shall not advance to the next segment.”
Power, who holds the INDYCAR record with 70 career poles, is without a pole on a road or street course for the first time since 2008. His two poles in 2023 were during the Iowa Speedway doubleheader.
Round 1-Group 1
Dixon (1m07.002-120.250 mph) was first among the 13 drivers to open Group 1 for qualifying. 10 of 13 drivers eclipsed the previous track record with three drivers setting best laps above 120 mph.
Along with Dixon, Grosjean, Vips, Ferrucci, Rosenqvist and VeeKay would advance to the second round (Fast 12)
Unable to advance were Canapino, Herta, Rossi Ericsson, Tom Blomqvist, Benjamin Pedersen and Ryan Hunter-Reay.
With less than 90 seconds remaining in the 10-minute opener, Hunter-Reay spun on the exit of Turn 11.
After bringing out the first red flag, the clock was stopped. Hunter-Reay would penalized under Rule 8.3.6-“If a Car causes a Red Condition in any segment, the Carās best two (2) timed laps of the segment shall be disallowed, the Car may not continue in the segment, and the Car shall not advance to the next segment.”
Round 1 Group 2
O’Ward (1m06.8459-120.528 mph) was first among the 14 drivers in Group 2, 10 of whom eclipsed the previous track record. Joining O’Ward in the Fast 12 was McLaughlin, Lundgaard, Newgarden, Palou and Power.
Halfway through the session, Meyer Shank Racing’s Helio Castroneves, who previously held the track record since 2000, spun into the Turn 3 gravel trap, prompting another red flag. Making his last NTT INDYCAR SERIES start as a full-time driver, the No. 06 will start 27th, per the aforementioned Rule 8.3.6.
Not advancing into Round as well included Graham Rahal, Marcus Armstrong, Kyle Kirkwood, David Malukas, Sting Ray Robb and Devlin DeFrancecsco. They will start on the outside of Rows 7-13 (14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 22nd, 24th and 26th).
Note: Engine Penalites expected for Vips, Ferrucci and Canapino. Starting Grid will be official following Sunday’s warmup.
Up Next
Here is the race day schedule for the weekend. Stay with IndyCar1909 for the latest on the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey.
At-track schedule (all times local):
Sunday, Sept. 10
9-9:30 a.m. ā NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, Peacock
9:55 a.m. ā INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 āDrivers Start Your Enginesā
10 a.m. ā INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 (35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55 minutes), Peacock
11:30 a.m. ā NBC on air
12:19 p.m. ā Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey āDrivers, start your enginesā
12:26 p.m. ā Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey (95 laps/212.61 miles), NBC (Live)
Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR
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