Scott Dixon remembers how close last year’s Verizon IndyCar Series championship was, with the top of the standings at season’s end having two drivers with exactly the same number of points. Dixon is now one pole victory behind Toronto’s Paul Tracy, who has 25 in his career.
Advertisement
The Kiwi’s 59.9073secs effort in the #9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, on the final lap of the qualifying session, earned his first pole of 2016, snapping a tie for twelfth place on the all-time IndyCar list with Johnny Rutherford by moving onto a career mark of 24.
“Whenever you can start on the pole, especially on the street courses, it’s a big help”, Dixon said.
IndyCar Series points leader Simon Pagenaud qualified third and Will Power was fourth as Team Penske took the three spots behind Dixon.
All Offers and Promotions posted in this article excludes NSW residents.
“Like I say, the handling was flawless”, he said, “and red [soft] tire degradation wasn’t bad at all”.
James Hinchcliffe finished on the podium as he placed third. Dixon held the lead comfortably for most of that time, and despite some pressure from Pagenaud later, still looked well on his way to his second win of 2016.
The Kiwi had earlier turned a lap of 59.9073 seconds to win the pole position at Indy Toronto.
Castroneves thought he had the pole until Dixon’s final lap flier. We knew we had a good race auto, though.
But somebody else who might have a gripe with Kimball is Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay, who speared Kimball early in the race.
The race has certainly produced its share of memorable on-track action over the past 30 years, and the changes made to the circuit this year are likely to make the event even more of a crash-fest than usual.
Dale Coyne Racing drivers Conor Daly and Luca Filippi also impressed by qualifying seventh and eleventh respectively.
Just seconds after Power had entered the pit lane, a caution period was called following a crash for Iowa victor Josef Newgarden at Turn 5. They give us IndyCars. Tony Kanaan led the field back to green with 23 laps to go but was on a three-stop strategy.
“I wasn’t able to use them without that yellow, I wasn’t able to push flat out without that yellow, and so with it we were able to do that and make sure the restart kind of went our way”.
“I got a little extra boost seeing the crowd stand up in Turn 11 and I knew that all my family and extended family and friends were sitting on that grandstand”, he said.
It’s also a shame – because just like that he’s back down from No. 2 in the title fight to No. 5 again.
“I feel like I am part of the action”, said the 26-year-old.
Advertisement
He observed: “Our championship lead is still healthy and wherever we go we’re competitive”. “This is our best session, qualifying is the highest we’ve been this weekend. There’s so much love and support from everyone in this paddock”, Hinchcliffe said after finishing the practice day with the fifth-fastest time. The change provides an additional six feet on the inside of the track, and concrete patches in Turns 1 and 9 were worked on to provide more consistent grip.
