P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alex Palou took a “phenomenal” pole position at the Indy 200 Mid-Ohio qualifying while Kirkwood faced shock elimination.
Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing secured pole position for the Indy 200 Mid-Ohio race on Sunday, July 6, beating Christian Lundgaard’s Arrow McLaren with a lightning-fast lap of 1:05.021. Lundgaard will start in second place, over two-tenth slower than Palou, highlighting the dominance of the pole sitter in qualifying.
Palou expressed his delight with the result, emphasizing the exceptional performance of their cars this year and the phenomenal speed displayed in every race track, which has been a significant improvement for the team.
Despite not having the pace to challenge for pole, Kyffin Simpson secured his career-best qualifying position in IndyCar, showcasing a strong performance throughout the session and advancing to the Fast Six for the first time.
Simpson acknowledged the advantage of starting with an extra set of red tires for the race, instilling confidence in his ability to compete effectively during the upcoming event and aiming to capitalize on the additional pace it provides.
In contrast, Kyle Kirkwood was visibly disappointed with his qualifying performance, attributing his setback to being impeded by another driver and missing out on the opportunity to improve his lap time, resulting in a seventh-place start for tomorrow’s race.
