Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Live text
IndyCar Indy 500

Live: 2019 Indianapolis 500 qualifying

Fernando Alonso, McLaren Racing Chevrolet

Live Text

Sort by
Checkered flag

Stick with all the reaction and breaking news on Motorsport.com. My thanks to David Malsher, who will be bashing out his qualifying report right now – be sure to check out that shortly...

Until next time, see ya!

Off track
The track action today might be over, but the off-track intrigue is likely to be just as intense!
How about Kyle Kaiser and Juncos Racing? Now questions will be asked whether McLaren and Alonso might consider buying a spot on the grid... Remember, James Hinchcliffe did not do that last year, having failed to make the grid in similar circumstances.
Spencer was doing a rain dance earlier, as he would have started from pole if the Fast Nine didn't happen, but the weather dried up.
Quote
Second-placed starter Pigot: "I was flat all four laps, but still really proud of the effort. We came up a little short of pole, but we know we have a great car for next weekend."
It's a 1-2-3-4 for Chevy, with Honda's top starter being Colton Herta in fifth.
Pagenaud embraces Roger Penske, who is chasing an 18th Indy 500 win.
Quote

What a difference a month makes for Simon Pagenaud: "It's a very special time. My mum is calling me now! Thank you to Team Chevy and Menards. Obviously last week was amazing, but I can't thank Team Penske enough. All the engineers worked really well, I'm on cloud nine – this is the biggest race in the world!

"My heart-rate is really high. Getting a pole under my belt is amazing. The goal is to win the race. We have the best car, the best engine, we saw that today. A lot can happen, but we just need to execute."

that's your front three rows

Pagenaud, Carpenter, Pigot,

Jones, Herta, Power, 

Bourdais, Newgarden, Rossi

Checkered flag
Pagenaud's 229.992mph was enough for P1, ahead of Carpenter's 229.889mph and Pigot's 229.826mph.
SIMON PAGENAUD WINS POLE
And the last lap drops off and sees Pigot drop to third
Get ready to celebrate, Simon...
That's not good enough.
229.792 for Lap 3
Lap 3 will be crucial now...
But he drops to 229.841 on Lap 2 and drops to 2nd overall
Wow, his car looks planted.
230.085 for Spencer's opener in the ECR-Chevy!
Pigot, fastest yesterday, starts his run
Cloud
A little cloud cover for Pigot.
Quote
Pagenaud: "We gave it everything we had, the car was phenomenal. The balance was amazing. We'll see what Spencer can do. We trimmed more than yesterday, but the car was great."
Power fifth fastest, guaranteed for second row, average of 228.645
This is guaranteeing Carpenter's front-row spot.
the car's handling just isn't neat at all
Has he taken too much downforce out of the car by trimming it out?
228.645 on Lap 2. Using all the road
Power not in the ballgame - 228.909 Lap 1
Power has had 56 career poles in IndyCar but has never started the Indy 500 from pole.
Looks like it will take a 230mph average to top Pagenaud.
Just Power and Pigot to go now, and Willy P has headed out onto the track
No fourth pole for Ed Carpenter today. But he'll start on the front row most likely.
Three 230s and a 229.7. Lovely job from the Indy GP winner
He only dipped to 229.729mph on the last lap.
That was quite some run! Three laps over 230mph.
Guaranteed a front-row start
Pagenaud goes top - 229.992 average
This consistency is quite amazing.

By: Charles Bradley, David Malsher

Published: