Rookie VeeKay takes shock Indianapolis pole, Dixon only 12th

IndyCar rookie Rinus VeeKay scored his first series pole position at Indianapolis, as a red flag hindered points leader Scott Dixon and benefited his closest rival Josef Newgarden at the same time.

Qualifying was split into two groups, the fastest driver taking pole. The drivers in the pole-winner’s group then take the odd-numbered side of the grid with the other group taking the even starting numbers.

Even though the series visited the Indianapolis road course earlier this season, this double-header’s lateness in the year made the experience gathered from the previous race irrelevant, with track temperatures over 30 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than before.

Drivers also had to contend with glare and shadows due to a setting sun in qualifying – especially at Turn 12 and 13 – and strong winds.

The first group was lopsided with talent, both title contenders Dixon and Newgarden joined by Indy road course specialist Jack Harvey, July pole winner Will Power and third in the championship Patricio O’Ward among others.

Newgarden headed Power and Harvey after the initial harder tyre runs, but when the drivers switched to the softer tyre, Takuma Sato beached his car in the gravel trap and immediately brought out a red flag.

It meant the group didn’t get a red-tyre run as the time in the session ran out. That guaranteed Newgarden was the fastest in his group, while Dixon was consigned to 12th on the overall grid.

Newgarden must outscore Dixon by 19 points over this weekend’s pair of races to keep the title alive to the St Petersburg finale, and has already picked one point for being fastest in his qualifying session.

In group two Mid-Ohio pole and race winner Colton Herta was the early benchmark, but Ed Carpenter Racing’s VeeKay made the most of some excessive weaving to get temperature in his tyres, and delivered a blistering lap under pressure when it counted.

It means VeeKay – favourite to win rookie of the year – starts on pole alongside Newgarden, with Herta and then Power rounding out the top four.

Indianapolis 500 polesitter Marco Andretti delivered one of his performances of the season to take fifth, ahead of Meyer Shank’s Jack Harvey and Chip Ganassi’s Felix Rosenqvist.

Alexander Rossi had a double podium weekend at Mid Ohio – and although the Indy road course hasn’t always been favourable to his Andretti Autosport team – he took eighth ahead of Carlin’s Max Chilton and O’Ward.

Dixon will start from 12th after the red flag caused him misery.

Of the numerous drivers joining the series or swapping teams in this event, Sebastien Bourdais was highest-placed – starting 16th for AJ Foyt Racing.

James Hinchcliffe starts from 18th after replacing Zach Veach at Andretti, while Helio Castroneves is one place behind having replaced Oliver Askew – who is suffering with a concussion – at Arrow McLaren SP.

Qualifying Results