Palou showcased his precision as he maneuvered the scorching track surface. On Saturday afternoon at Laguna Seca, the NTT IndyCar series took center stage with 27 entrants eager to set the order for Sunday’s race.
Under the blazing sun, the air temperatures exceeded expectations, resulting in a track temperature that soared above 130F (55C). The intense heat posed a challenge for nearly all the drivers, particularly with the softer red walled tires, leading to multiple drivers veering off into the gravel or experiencing early exits.
However, it was Alex Palou who mastered the conditions, securing his second pole position of the season with a lap time of 1:07.1465. Although Palou initially struggled during qualifying, he found the perfect balance when it mattered most in the final round.
Kyle Kirkwood secured a spot on the outside of the front row, recognizing the difficulty of overtaking on the 2.24-mile course. Felix Rosenqvist continued his impressive season, claiming the third starting position, while Colton Herta, a fan favorite on his home track, will start alongside him.
Alexander Rossi, the sole representative of Chevrolet in the Fast 6, qualified in fifth place. Christina Lundgaard followed closely behind, earning a spot on the outside of the third row.
Scott McLaughlin narrowly missed out on the Fast 6, as Rossi’s last-gasp lap pushed him down to the fourth row. Romain Grosjean will begin from eighth place, expressing his frustration with the slow laps performed by drivers before their push laps.
Despite the traffic during qualifying, Grosjean acknowledged that it was no worse than other race tracks and will need to adapt accordingly. David Malukas made a strong comeback from injury, advancing to the second round in his Meyer Shank Racing Honda. Starting from 12th, Malukas aims to prove his fitness with a solid performance.
Agustin Canapino fell short of matching his Juncos Hollinger Racing teammate’s pace, becoming the first driver to miss out on advancing to the second round. He will start from 13th.
Both Josef Newgarden and Will Power struggled to find speed, failing to progress beyond the first round. Alongside a group of drivers who grappled with the softer red tires, they will start on the seventh and eighth rows.
Nolan Siegel capitalized on others’ misfortunes to secure the 23rd starting position. The 19-year-old rookie recently transitioned from an IndyNXT ride to a seat with Arrow McLaren for the remainder of the season. While Siegel has participated in a few IndyCar races earlier this year, his true IndyCar journey begins in earnest on Sunday.
The green flags for the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey will wave at 3:30 PM Pacific time on Sunday, with forecasts predicting only slightly cooler conditions.