P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Scott McLaughlin will start the 2024 Indianapolis 500 on pole position as part of a Penske sweep of the front-row.
Scott McLaughlin broke the all-time Indianapolis 500 qualifying speed record to lead a Penske front-row lockout. The battle for pole position was intense among McLaughlin, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Alexander Rossi, Kyle Larson, and Santino Ferrucci. McLaughlin’s remarkable 234.220mph average secured him the pole, surpassing the previous record set by Alex Palou. This marks the first Penske front-row lockout since 1988 when Rick Mears, Danny Sullivan, and Al Unser Sr achieved it. Among the top contenders, only McLaughlin has yet to win the prestigious race, with Power and Newgarden having victories under their belts. NASCAR star Kyle Larson will start fifth in addition to running the Cup Series’ Coke 600 next week, while 2022 winner Marcus Ericsson barely made the cut for the race after overcoming practice struggles.
