P1racenews AI automatic summary:
“Out of synch” Kirkwood rues St. Petersburg IndyCar qualifying plan
Kyle Kirkwood, who won at street tracks at Long Beach and Nashville last year, failed to progress from the first stage of qualifying due to a strategy call that pushed him too late on the Firestone tires. His teammates Colton Herta and Marcus Ericsson both made the Fast Six and will start fourth and sixth. Kirkwood expressed disappointment, citing a misjudgment in timing laps that cost him a top-six spot. Despite starting 18th, he remains confident in his team’s abilities and the car’s speed, believing that race strategy will be crucial in Sunday’s race. Kirkwood sees an opportunity to charge towards the front with extra sets of fresh alternate tires available for his race.
