By: Spencer Neff
March 9, 2024
Despite winning four races in 2023, including his first Indianapolis 500, Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden was quick to admit he needed to improve qualifying. After not doing so in 2023, the two-time INDYCAR Champion earned the first pole of 2024 for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
It is the 17th pole in his 199th career NTT INDYCAR SERIES appearance. Six of those, including his last three have been on temporary street circuits (Long Beach 2021 and Belle Isle 2022). The Hendersonville, Tennessee native will line up on the front row at the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit for the second time.
In 2019, he started second en route to his first of consecutive wins in the event.
Round 3-Fast 6
Newgarden saved Chevrolet’s best session for when it counted the most, leading the six-car battle for the pole.
Alongside him will be Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist, who led Friday’s opening practice. Row 2 will be occupied by Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward and Andretti Global’s Colton Herta, who led this morning’s practice.
Row 3 features last year’s pole winner Romain Grosjean in his debut for Juncos Hollinger Racing with 2023 St. Petersburg winner Marcus Ericsson qualifying sixth in his first race with Andretti Global.
Round 2-Fast 12
Rosenqvist (59.2706-109.329 mph) was one of three drivers in the Fast 12 to break Will Power’s 2022 track record (59.3466-109.189 mph) as he led the six drivers advancing to compete for the pole. Joining him in the final round would be Herta, Newgarden, Ericsson, Grosjean and O”Ward.
Missing the cut were Rinus VeeKay, Power, Scott McLaughlin, Marcus Armstrong, Scott Dixon and Christian Lundgaard. They will start seventh through twelfth.
Round 1-Group 1
Ericsson picked up where he left off at St. Pete last season to start 2024, leading the first group with a best lap of 59.3703 (109.145 mph). Advancing to Round 2 with him would be Armstrong, O’Ward, Newgarden, VeeKay and McLaughlin.
Meyer Shank Racing rookie Tom Boomqvist was assessed the only penalty across three rounds when he caused a local yellow, per INDYCAR Rule 8.3.7.3. Despite the penalty, he was the best qualifier among the five rookies in the race.
Not advancing past the opening group would be two-time and defending series champion Alex Palou, Alexander Rossi, Blomqvist, Linus Lundqvist, Christian Rasmussen, Kyffin Simpson and Colin Braun. They will start on the inside of Rows 7-13.
Round 1-Group 2
Herta (59.5595-108.799 mph) made it a sweep of the first round for Andretti Global. Advancing to Round 2 with Herta were Grosjean, Rosenqvist, Power, Dixon and Lundgaard.
The drivers who did not advance included Santino Ferrucci, Callum Ilott, Kyle Kirkwood, Agustin Canapino, Graham Rahal, Sting Ray Robb, Pietro Fittipaldi and Jack Harvey. Harvey will start 27th, inside of Row 14, All other drivers in Group 2 will start on the outside of Rows 7-13.
Up Next
Below is the on-track schedule for tomorrow in St. Petersburg. IndyCar1909 will have coverage and social media updates throughout this weekend. Turn 4 Podcast Host Dan Maldonado is on-site at the track this weekend as well.
At-track schedule (All Times Local/Eastern Time):
Sunday, March 10
9:10-9:40 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, Peacock
10:10 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (45 laps / 81 miles / 55minutes), Peacock (Live)
Noon – NBC Sports on air
12:23 p.m. – “Drivers, start your engines”
12:30 p.m. – Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (100 laps / 181miles), NBC, Universo and Peacock (Live)
Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR
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