It’s time to set the grid for the second oval race of the 2025 IndyCar season with Qualifying in Gateway! Who will take the top spot, maybe Josef Newgarden still waiting for the first win of the year, or will Palou reconfirm his impressive form?
Qualifying, just like Practice 1, was delayed by a hour and a half because of adverse weather conditions. The grid will be set by the best average speed over the span of two laps, set in reverse championship order.
Early attempts
Jacob Abel is the first driver to complete his qualifying attempt, with an average speed of a little over 171mph, significantly lower compared to the best efforts recorded in the only practise of the day so far.
Ilott for newcomers Prema is on next, setting a 176.758mph which could be a potential top ten time comparing notes with the earlier runs. His teammate and pole sitter for the Indy 500 Shwartzman comes next.
In spite of the fact that he managed to convince the engineer who had worked on his car for the 500 to return for this IndyCar qualifying and race at Gateway and the other upcoming ovals, he has to settle for provisional last place
Defrancesco had a positive run for RLL, only half a mile behind Ilott’s provisional P1. His teammate Foster is the next to take the track, signing a positive speed of 174.907mph which is now good enough for P3, whereas Juncos’s Robb slide in right behind him half a mile slower.
Arrow McLaren’s Siegel sets the first lap in the 175mphs of the session, dethroning the regina IndyNXT champion from the position. Daly, who has previously scored a podium at the track, improvoves Ilott’s time by a small margin.
Former 500 winners and podium sitters
However, the Indianapolis native lead is short lasted, as Ericsson sets the first lap in the 177mphs of the day. The first Ganassi driver of the day, Simpson, was however not as successful unfortunately, just like Rasmussen, with the duo settling for provisional P10 and P9 respectively.
Dale Coyne’s Veekay slots in P5, definitely hoping to bring DCR back on the Gateway podium after a year, just like Malukas had done. The final RLL driver of the day is Rahal, who takes up provisional P8.
In spite of the fact that Ferrucci had a moment as his front right tyre didn’t behave as it shouldn’t, he still managed to score a positive P6.
ECR’s Rossi records the fastest first lap of the day, with an overall average of 177.996mphs. 2024 Gateway winner Newgarden is on next, he he goes on to the top of the standings with an impressive 178.910mph.
Imoressively, in spite of almost making contact with the wall, Malukas throws his AJ Foyt car in P1 signing the first average of the day in the 179s. Meyer Shank’s Armstrong had a strong run as well, sliding in between Newgarden and Rossi.
Andretti’s Herta settles behind Armstrong, whereas McLaughlin imoressively raises the benchmark to 179.783mph with less than ten drivers left. Dixon takes provisional P6 for Ganassi. Last driver to take the track during the 500 qualifying was Rosenqvist, who sets 178.696mphs to settle in right behind his Meyers Shank Racing teammate.
Final Fireworks
Power is the last Penske driver to take the track today, and he goes to the top with a groundbreaking 183mphs final lap and an average of 180.329mphs. McLaren’s Lundgaard’s 176mphs effort has him out of the top ten surprisingly.
Detroit and Long Beach race winner Kirkwood however manages to get in to the top ten. O’Ward suffers from lockup at Turn 1, but ultimately snatches a 179.190mph for provisional p3.
Finally it’s championship leader Palou’s turn, but his speed never worried the Penske’s and Chevrolets at the top of the field, joining Kirkwood in P9.
Will Power takes his first pole position in two years in IndyCar qualifying for Gateway, and his seventy first overall ahead of McLaughlin and O’Ward.
Tune in later for Practice and the main event!
Complete results for IndyCar qualifying In Gateway
