Cassidy denies Vandoorne New York Formula E pole

Nick Cassidy denied Stoffel Vandoorne pole for the New York Formula E opener, but second was still huge for Vandoorne on a day when none of his championship rivals even reached the duels.

Points leader Edoardo Mortara was simply not quite quick enough, missing a top-four spot in group A by 0.008s, leaving his Venturi Mercedes ninth on the grid.

For Mitch Evans and Jean-Eric Vergne, the situation was more frustrating: they were caught out by a rain shower arriving early in group B, before they’d managed competitive flying laps. They’ll start 14th and 16th respectively.

Vandoorne had only been third behind Envision Audi pair Robin Frijns and Cassidy in group A, but dismissed Alexander Sims in the quarter-finals then Lucas di Grassi in the semis to take on Cassidy (who won duels against Sam Bird then Pascal Wehrlein) again in the pole shootout on a now basically dry track.

Cassidy was over a tenth of a second clear of Vandoorne through the opening corners, then his advantage began to dwindle and Vandoorne edged ahead.

A wild run through the final part of the lap looked like it might be costly for Cassidy, but it actually proved quicker than his Mercedes rival and he snatched his and Envision’s first pole of the season by 0.008s.

Di Grassi and Wehrlein share row two, ahead of rare duels participants Sebastien Buemi and Sims, then Frijns and three-time New York winner Bird.

Practice two pacesetter Antonio Felix da Costa was another caught out by the group B rain in 10th, whereas Vandoorne’s reigning champion Mercedes team-mate Nyck de Vries just didn’t show enough pace in group A and starts 11th.

Group A was interrupted by a heavy crash for Sergio Sette Camara, who slammed his Dragon Penske car into the wall at the final corner after clipping the barrier in the first part of the right-left sequence. He was unhurt but starts 21st.

Also near the back are Porsche’s Andre Lotterer (17th) and FE’s sole American driver Oliver Askew (19th). Both crossed the line too late to get their final flying lap in at the end of group A.

Maximilian Guenther was another to crash in qualifying, though his wall hit was just as he finished his last group A flying lap so it didn’t delay the session. He starts 15th.

Qualifying Results