Alex Palou achieved a consistent third place in qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, only surpassed by the McLaren of rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi, which gives him access to the Fast-12 on Sunday (20:00) and which places him as the favorite man on the front line. The Spaniard completed four solid laps and finished as the best of the Ganassi.
He made his first guaranteed attempt from 28th place, awarded after the draw after the fast friday, in which he finished 11th despite not having done a qualifying simulation when the oval was fastest. On Saturday the reason for this little activity was known: he replaced the engine Sling from his ganassi before going out to qualify, as he also did Dixona change that did not bring a penalty but did bring performance.
The time lost on Friday afternoon was recovered by the man from Barcelona in practice prior to qualifying with the third time in one lap (232.823) and the best in the average of four with 232.714 MPH, significantly better than the speed of Friday and leaving hints of what was going to happen in the afternoon.
Starting from such a back position had pros and cons: knowing the time of the others and finding the track not in the best conditions. Until the turn of palouthe first ganassi to try it was that of Ericsson, sixth by draw. The Swede left a reference of 232,735 that was surpassed shortly after by the McLaren of rossiwith 233,528, and rosenqvist, with 233,099; by his teammate Dixon232,914, and the surprising rookies Benjamin Pedersen of A. J. Foyt (232,739). They were already times to take into account and a priori enough to be fighting for pole position on Sunday.
The cars continued to go out to his attempts and on the way he got second Rinus VeeKay (233,395) with the Ed Carpenter, third Pato O’Ward (233,252), fourth Santino Ferrucci, (233,147), sixth Takuma Sato (232,857) and when palou launched his four laps the cut for 12th place was held by Conor Daley (232,433) and the best average was still in the hands of Alexander Rossi. He needed the Spaniard to answer the Chevrolet dominance that dominated the top-6 with four clean laps, in 232 very high or 233 low to pass and avoid problems like those that plagued the Penske of McLauhlin and newgardenwaiting in the garage for their turn in the fast lane without having made their guaranteed first attempt.
Began palou with an approach lap at 222.256, the first at 234.248, the second at 233.698 which he replied with a 233.113 in the third. The fourth and last was 232,540 which earned him a second solid position with 233,398 that put him in the slow lane for a second attempt although his presence was practically assured for the Fast-12 and with few threats from behind. The only changes came from people already with good times, like Felix Rosenquist, who was placed first and left over in the last hour, 233,947 which sent the Barcelonan to the final third.
“I am very happy with my classification and Don’t worry, I have a great team behind me. And I don’t have to worry about having a fast car or having a good balance. I am very confident and even more so after the qualifying we have done”, said the Spaniard as he got out of the car with which he will take pole position tomorrow against Rosenqvist, Rossi, veekay, Dixon, kanaan, Sato, O’Ward, ferrucci, Ericsson, Pedersen and Power.
