By: Spencer Neff
March 23, 2024

Starting Lineups

Felix Rosenqvist will start from the pole in Heat 1 for tomorrow’s $1 Million Challenge at the Thermal Club. During Saturday afternoon’s eight-minute qualifying, the Meyer Shank Racing driver notched a best lap of 1m38.5831-111.999 mph on the 3.067-mile, 17-turn road course in California.

Rosenqvist started on the pole for last season’s finale and started second at the March 10 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Group 1

The Varnamo, Sweden native was fastest in Group 1 and will lead the 14-car field in the first of tomorrow’s pair of heat races.

Following will be Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin, Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Christian Lundgaard, the Team Penske duo of Josef Newgarden and Will Power, Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Romain Grosjean and Agustin Canapino, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon, A.J. Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci, Andretti Global’s Colton Herta, Dale Coyne Racing rookie Nolan Siegel (the lone rookie in Heat 1- his first INDYCAR appearance), Andretti l’s Kyle Kirkwood and Foyt’s Sting Ray Robb.

Group 2

Palou, who led both of Friday’s test sessions, posted the best lap of the day as the session drew to a close. With a best lap of 1m38.5675 (112.017 mph), the 2021 and 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion would start the 20-lap Sprint for the Purse on the pole if he wins the 10-lap Heat 2 race tomorrow.

Next to Palou on the front row will be Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Marcus Armstrong. Rounding out the 13-car lineup will be Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal, CGR’s Linus Lundqvist (best rookie), Meyer Shank Racing rookie Tom Blomqvist,. RLLR”s Pietro Fittipaldi, the Arrow McLaren trio of Alexander Rossi, Callum Ilott and Pato O’Ward.

Rounding out the grid will be CGR rookie Kyffin Simpson, Ed Carpenter Racing rookie Christian Rasmussen, Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing’s Colin Braun and Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson.

With less than 80 seconds remaining, Ericsson spun in Turn 8, making contact with the inside tire barrier. The incident prompted a red flag and relegated Ericsson to last in the 13-car Heat 2 for tomorrow.

Up Next

Here is the race day schedule for tomorrow at the Thermal Club. Stay with IndyCar1909 for the latest on this weekend’s $1 million Challenge.

At-track schedule (All Times Local):

Sunday, March 24

9:24 a.m. – $1 Million Challenge Heat Race 1 “Drivers Start Your Engines”

9:30 a.m. – NBC on air

9:31 a.m. – $1 Million Challenge Heat Race 1 (10 laps / 30.67 miles / 20 minutes / Top 6 advance to Sprint for the Purse), NBC

9:58 a.m. – $1 Million Challenge Heat Race 2 “Drivers Start Your Engines”

10:05 a.m. – $1 Million Challenge Heat Race 2 (10 laps / 30.67 miles / 20 minutes/ Top 6 advance to Sprint for the Purse), NBC

10:52 a.m. – $1 Million Challenge Sprint for the Purse “Drivers, start your engines”

10:59 a.m. – $1 Million Challenge Sprint for the Purse (Two 10-lap segments with 10-minute halftime after Lap 10), NBC (Live)

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Notes:

· The Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge will be the first non-championship NTT INDYCAR SERIES race since 2008. With a total payout of over $1.7 million, it is the largest non-Indy 500 purse for an INDYCAR SERIES event in over two decades. More information on the weekend format can be found HERE. There have been 10 INDYCAR SERIES exhibition races held since 1946, including the Marlboro Challenge All-Star race, which was held by CART from 1987-1992.

Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR