By: Spencer Neff
June 22, 2024
Two-time and defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion Alex Palou earned his second pole of 2024 and fifth of his career on Saturday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. He also earned the pole at the Sonsio Grand Prix on the IMS Road Course last month, a race he won.
Palou will start tomorrow’s 95-lap Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey up front after posting a best lap of 1m07.1465-119.988 mph on the 2.238-mile, 11-turn road course in Salinas, California.
The INDYCAR pole is the 96th for Chip Ganassi Racing and second at Laguna Seca. Alex Zanardi (1996) was previously the lone driver to start on the pole for CGR at this course.
Palou topped Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood by ,0739 of a second in the final round of qualifying. This is Kirkwood’s best start of 2024.
Round 3-Fast Six
Palou would complete a sweep of all three sessions en route to the pole with Kirkwood joining him on the front row.
Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist will start third with Kirkwood’s teammate Colton Herta in fourth.
Row 3 will be occupied by Arrow McLaren’s Alexander Rossi and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Christian Lundgaard.
Round 2-Fast 12
Palou (1m07.2572-119.791 mph) was fastest among the half-dozen to advance for the battle to pole. Advancing with him were Kirkwood, Herta, Rosenqvist, Rossi and Lundgaard.
Scott McLaughlin, Romain Grosjean, Pato O’Ward, Scott Dixon, Marcus Armstrong and David Malukas were unable to advance and they start in 7th-12th.
Round 1-Group 2
Palou (1m07.2751-119.758 mph) was quickest in the 10-minute session, advancing with Herta, Kirkwood, O’Ward, Rosenqvist and Lundgaard.
Not advancing were Josef Newgarden, Linus Lundqvist, Marcus Ericsson, Rinus VeeKay, Kyffin Simpson, Pietro Fittipaldi and Jack Harvey- they start on the outside of Rows 7-13 along with Luca Ghiotto, who starts last on the 27-car grid.
Round 1-Group 1
Grosjean (1m07.6813-119.040 mph) was fastest during the opening group, advancing with Rossi, Armstrong, Dixon, McLaughlin and Malukas.
On the other side of the cut line were Agustin Canapino, Will Power, Santino Ferrucci, Graham Rahal, Christian Rasmussen. Nolan Siegel and Sting Ray Robb. They will start on the inside of the final seven rows.
Up Next
Here is the race day schedule for the weekend. Stay with IndyCar1909.com and our social media for the latest on the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey.
At-track schedule (all times local):
Sunday, June 23
Noon-12:30 p.m. ā NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, Peacock
1 p.m. ā INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 āDrivers Start Your Enginesā
1:05 p.m. ā INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 (35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55minutes), Peacock
3 p.m. ā USA Network on air
3:23 p.m. ā Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey āDrivers, start your engines
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