Alex Palou scored the pole for Sunday’s NTT IndyCar Series race on the Streets of Detroit course. Photo: Penske Entertainment: James Black
Alex Palou spent plenty of time in the runoff areas Friday afternoon and Saturday morning while finding the limits of grip and speed on the new Streets of Detroit circuit.
That education in practice paid off Saturday, as Palou will start the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday from the best position – pole.
Palou earned his third career pole and second in a row – he also won the NTT P1 Award for the Indianapolis 500 last month – in the No. 10 Honda fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing. His best lap of 1 minute, 1.8592 seconds with 70 seconds left in the Firestone Fast Six withstood a handful of attempts to topple it.
“We started on used greens (Firestone alternate tires) that we used in the Fast 12, and it didn’t feel really good,” Palou said. “I was concerned if we were going to be able to make two laps or not, but super happy. My first pole on street course. We had a great car since the beginning.
“It’s going to be a tough day tomorrow, for sure. I got off (course) a lot in practice. We were wanting to see where the limit was. We found it. But man, it’s a crazy track.”
Scott McLaughlin will join championship leader Palou on the front row after his best lap of 1:02.1592.
Romain Grosjean qualified third at 1:02.2896. Scott Dixon, who led practice Saturday morning, will join Grosjean in Row 2 after qualifying fourth at 1:02.4272.
Newly crowned Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden overcame the fatigue of a hectic week of celebration and media and sponsor activities after his dramatic Indy victory to qualify fifth at 1:02.5223. Marcus Ericsson rounded out the Firestone Fast Six at 1:02.6184.
McLaughlin was one of the last drivers on a flying lap during the Firestone Fast Six but couldn’t eclipse Palou’s best lap.
“Credit to him – great lap,” McLaughlin said. “Man, this is a tough old joint here. You’re wheeling it pretty hard. We just didn’t quite have it, but this is a great result for us in the Gallagher Chevy. This is a real tough challenge.”
Live coverage of the 100-lap race on the bumpy, tight, nine-turn, 1.7-mile temporary street circuit in downtown Detroit starts at 3 p.m. ET Sunday on NBC, Peacock and the IndyCar Radio Network.
NTT IndyCar Series
Streets of Detroit – Detroit, MI
Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix – June 3, 2023
Saturday’s Qualifying Results
1. (10) Alex Palou, Honda, 01:01.8592 (95.734)
2. (3) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 01:02.1592 (95.271)
3. (28) Romain Grosjean, Honda, 01:02.2896 (95.072)
4. (9) Scott Dixon, Honda, 01:02.4272 (94.862)
5. (2) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 01:02.5223 (94.718)
6. (8) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 01:02.6184 (94.573)
7. (12) Will Power, Chevrolet, 01:02.1817 (95.237)
8. (60) Simon Pagenaud, Honda, 01:02.1860 (95.230)
9. (6) Felix Rosenqvist, Chevrolet, 01:02.1937 (95.219)
10. (5) Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 01:02.2564 (95.123)
11. (11) Marcus Armstrong, Honda, 01:02.2958 (95.063)
12. (27) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, 01:04.6075 (91.661)
13. (7) Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, 01:02.5714 (94.644)
14. (21) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 01:02.1911 (95.223)
15. (20) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 01:02.9522 (94.071)
16. (77) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, 01:02.2644 (95.111)
17. (29) Devlin DeFrancesco, Honda, 01:03.0017 (93.997)
18. (45) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 01:02.6495 (94.526)
19. (55) Benjamin Pedersen, Chevrolet, 01:03.1599 (93.762)
20. (78) Agustin Canapino, Chevrolet, 01:02.9071 (94.139)
21. (18) David Malukas, Honda, 01:03.2126 (93.684)
22. (14) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, 01:02.9589 (94.061)
23. (06) Helio Castroneves, Honda, 01:03.3879 (93.425)
24. (26) Colton Herta, Honda, 01:03.4165 (93.383)
25. (30) Jack Harvey, Honda, 01:03.7728 (92.861)
26. (51) Sting Ray Robb, Honda, 01:03.7496 (92.895)
27. (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, 01:03.8663 (92.725)
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