By: Spencer Neff
July 6, 2024

Qualifying Results

Alex Palou earned his second pole in as many races on Saturday. Following a best lap in the final round of qualifying, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver earned pole for Sunday’s Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.

It is Palou’s sixth career pole and third of the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season for the current points leader.

In five previous starts at the 2.258-mile, 13-turn Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, his best start was fourth (2020-Race 2 and 2023). Last year, Palou led 48 of 80 laps en route to a win at the Lexington, Ohio road course.

Round 3-Fast Six

Fast Six Results

Palou (1m05.3511-124.387 mph) would top Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward by .0024 of a second to win pole. It is the narrowest margin between first and second since 2008, when three-round, knockout-style qualifying was implemented.

On the second row is Meyer Shank Racing’s David Malukas (matches career-best start) with Andretti Global’s Colton Herta.

Palou’s CGR teammate Marcus Armstrong qualified fifth but faces a six-place grid penalty with Herta’s teammate Marcus Ericsson in sixth.

Round 2-Fast 12

Round 2 Results

Palou continued his dominant run with a best lap of 1m05.2848 (124.513 mph) to make the Fast 6 along with O’Ward, Herta, Malukas, Armstrong and Ericsson.

Starting in seventh through 12thn (Pending Armstrong’s penalty) will be Scott McLaughlin, Alexander Rossi, Christian Rasmussen (highest-qualifying rookie and best career start), Christian Lundgaard, Linus Lundqvist and Romain Grosjean.

Round 1-Group 2

Group 2 Results

Armstrong was quickest during the second 10-mintue grouping (1m05.5044-124.095 mph). Moving on to the second round were Herta, Lundgaard, O’Ward, Lundqvist and Grosjean.

Those who did not make the cut were Scott Dixon, Will Power, Josef Newgarden, Rinus VeeKay, Agustin Canapino, Kyffin Simpson, Sting Ray Robb and Jack Harvey, Pending the grid penalties for Armstrong, those seven drivers start 27th (Harvey) and on the outside of Rows 7-13.

Round 1 Group 1

Group 1 Results

Palou (1m05.4915-124.120 mph) was quickest again during the first group for qualifying, leading the six drivers who’d advance into Round 2. Joining him were Malukas, Rossi, McLaughlin, Rasmussen and Ericsson.

Missing out on the second round were Felix Rosenqvist, Kyle Kirkwood, Nolan Siegel, Graham Rahal, Santino Ferrucci, Pietro Fittipaldi and Toby Sowery. They are slated to start on the inside of Rows 7-13 but Rosenqvist and Fittipaldi face a six-place grid penalty for an unapproved engine change.

Up Next

Here is the race day schedule for tomorrow at Mid-Ohio. Stay with IndyCar1909 and our social media platforms for the latest from the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. 

At-track schedule (all times local): 10:25-10:55 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Final Practice, Peacock 11:20 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio command to start engines 11:25 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio (35 laps/55 minutes), Peacock 1:05 p.m. – Driver introductions 1:46 p.m. – The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid command to start engines 1:53 p.m. – The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid (80 laps/180.64 miles), NBC (live)