Indy 500 starting grid: McLaughlin on pole, 33-car field in full

The 30-year-old Kiwi will lead the 33-car field to the green flag for a three-wide rolling start across 11 rows for the 200-lap, 500-mile race.

In a Penske sweep, its first since 1988, Will Power will start from the middle of the front row, with Josef Newgarden on the outside.

Indy 500 grid: McLaughlin on pole from Power, Newgarden

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Cla	Driver	#		Time	Mph
1	S. McLaughlin Team Penske	3		2'33.7017	234.220
2	W. Power Team Penske	12		+0.1990 2'33.9007	233.917
3	J. Newgarden Team Penske	2		+0.2709 2'33.9726	233.808
4	A. Rossi Arrow McLaren	7		+0.7452 2'34.4469	233.090
5	K. Larson Arrow McLaren/Rick Hendrick	17		+0.9066 2'34.6083	232.846
6	S. Ferrucci A.J. Foyt Enterprises	14		+1.0093 2'34.7110	232.692
7	R. van Kalmthout Ed Carpenter Racing	21		+1.0640 2'34.7657	232.610
8	P. O'Ward Arrow McLaren	5		+1.0812 2'34.7829	232.584
9	F. Rosenqvist Meyer Shank Racing	60		+1.2669 2'34.9686	232.305
10	T. Sato Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	75		+1.3561 2'35.0578	232.171
11	K. Kirkwood Andretti Global	27		+2.1473 2'35.8490	230.993
12	R. Hunter-Reay Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports	23		+2.4350 2'36.1367	230.567
13	C. Herta Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian	26		+1.2599 2'34.9616	232.316
14	A. Palou Chip Ganassi Racing	10		+1.2665 2'34.9682	232.306
15	C. Ilott Arrow McLaren	6		+1.3167 2'35.0184	232.230
16	M. Armstrong Chip Ganassi Racing	11		+1.3487 2'35.0504	232.183
17	E. Carpenter Ed Carpenter Racing	20		+1.4591 2'35.1608	232.017
18	K. Simpson Chip Ganassi Racing	4		+1.5052 2'35.2069	231.948
19	M. Andretti Andretti Herta Autosport with Marco & Curb-Agajani	98		+1.5441 2'35.2458	231.890
20	H. Castroneves Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian	06		+1.5570 2'35.2587	231.871
21	S. Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing	9		+1.5706 2'35.2723	231.851
22	A. Canapino Juncos Hollinger Racing	78		+1.5733 2'35.2750	231.847
23	R. Robb A.J. Foyt Enterprises	41		+1.5871 2'35.2888	231.826
24	C. Rasmussen Ed Carpenter Racing	33		+1.6835 2'35.3852	231.682
25	T. Blomqvist Meyer Shank Racing	66		+1.7537 2'35.4554	231.578
26	R. Grosjean Juncos Hollinger Racing	77		+1.7965 2'35.4982	231.514
27	L. Lundqvist Chip Ganassi Racing	8		+1.8017 2'35.5034	231.506
28	C. Lundgaard Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	45		+1.8291 2'35.5308	231.465
29	C. Daly Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports	24		+1.9786 2'35.6803	231.243
30	P. Fittipaldi Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	30		+2.0751 2'35.7768	231.100
31	K. Legge Dale Coyne Racing	51		+2.7573 2'36.4590	230.092
32	M. Ericsson Andretti Global	28		+2.8020 2'36.5037	230.027
33	G. Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	15		+2.8379 2'36.5396	229.974
View full results

What happened in Fast Six qualifying?

Last of the drivers to run as the track temperature dropped, McLaughlin also had the benefit of seeing the runs of Newgarden and Power who went before him.

He tore some mighty laps in the mid-234mph bracket to average a record-breaking 234.220mph four-lap average, 0.003mph faster than Alex Palou’s pole speed of last year.

Power lapped 0.199s slower over the four laps, for a 233.917mph average. Newgarden managed 233.808mph, which was 0.2709s off pole.

Alexander Rossi was best of the rest for Arrow McLaren, averaging 233.090mph, which was almost a quarter of a second off McLaughlin’s pace. His NASCAR star team-mate Kyle Larson was hugely impressive on his way to fifth at 232.846mph.

Santino Ferrucci was the slowest of the pole contenders, a loose effort resulting in 232.692mph – which was over a second away from P1.

Indy 500 Fast Six qualifying times: McLaughlin takes pole

Main Information Additional Data Driver Info

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Cla	Driver	#	Laps	Time	Interval	Mph
1	S. McLaughlin Team Penske	3	4	2'33.7017		234.220
2	W. Power Team Penske	12	4	+0.1990 2'33.9007	0.1990	233.917
3	J. Newgarden Team Penske	2	4	+0.2709 2'33.9726	0.0719	233.808
4	A. Rossi Arrow McLaren	7	4	+0.7452 2'34.4469	0.4743	233.090
5	K. Larson Arrow McLaren/Rick Hendrick	17	4	+0.9066 2'34.6083	0.1614	232.846
6	S. Ferrucci A.J. Foyt Enterprises	14	4	+1.0093 2'34.7110	0.1027	232.692
View full results

What happened in Indy 500 Top 12 qualifying?

McLaughlin ripped the 10-mile run around the 2.5-mile oval in 233.492mph, beating Power by 0.0056s – which crucially meant he’d run last in the Fast Six.

Newgarden was third again, on 233.286mph, and was over a tenth off the pace.

Missing the Fast Six cut were Rinus VeeKay (Ed Carpenter Racing), Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren), Felix Rosenqvist (Meyer Shank Racing) and Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing), who ensured his third top-10 start with three different teams.

Kyle Kirkwood will start just outside the top 10 after being forced to lift on his run with Andretti Global, while Ryan Hunter-Reay worked wonders to make the Fast 12 in the one-off Dreyer and Reinbold entry.

Ryan Hunter-Reay, DRR-CUSICK MOTORSPORTS Chevrolet (Photo by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Images)

Indy 500 Top 12 qualifying times: McLaughlin fastest

Main Information Additional Data Driver Info

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Cla	Driver	#	Laps	Time	Interval	Mph
1	S. McLaughlin Team Penske	3	4	2'34.1809		233.492
2	W. Power Team Penske	12	4	+0.0056 2'34.1865	0.0056	233.483
3	J. Newgarden Team Penske	2	4	+0.1359 2'34.3168	0.1303	233.286
4	A. Rossi Arrow McLaren	7	4	+0.2783 2'34.4592	0.1424	233.071
5	K. Larson Arrow McLaren/Rick Hendrick	17	4	+0.4660 2'34.6469	0.1877	232.788
6	S. Ferrucci A.J. Foyt Enterprises	14	4	+0.5097 2'34.6906	0.0437	232.723
7	R. van Kalmthout Ed Carpenter Racing	21	4	+0.5848 2'34.7657	0.0751	232.610
8	P. O'Ward Arrow McLaren	5	4	+0.6020 2'34.7829	0.0172	232.584
9	F. Rosenqvist Meyer Shank Racing	60	4	+0.7877 2'34.9686	0.1857	232.305
10	T. Sato Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	75	4	+0.8769 2'35.0578	0.0892	232.171
11	K. Kirkwood Andretti Global	27	4	+1.6681 2'35.8490	0.7912	230.993
12	R. Hunter-Reay Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports	23	4	+1.9558 2'36.1367	0.2877	230.567
View full results

What happened in Indy 500 Day 1 qualifying?

Power was fastest with a speed of 233.758mph, ahead of McLaughlin and Newgarden.

Expected heavy hitters to miss the Top 12 were Andretti Global’s Colton Herta and reigning champion Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing), who will start 13^th and 14^th respectively.

Four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves starts 20^th for Meyer Shank Racing, one spot ahead of six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon (CGR). Pietro Fittipaldi (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) was the last of the cars to avoid last-chance qualifying and will start 30^th.

Pietro Fittipaldi, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda (Photo by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Images)

Indy 500 Day 1 qualifying times: Power fastest

Main Information Additional Data Driver Info

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Cla	Driver	#	Laps	Time	Interval	Mph
1	W. Power Team Penske	12	4	2'34.0053		233.758
2	S. McLaughlin Team Penske	3	4	+0.2810 2'34.2863	0.2810	233.332
3	J. Newgarden Team Penske	2	4	+0.3071 2'34.3124	0.0261	233.293
4	A. Rossi Arrow McLaren	7	4	+0.4556 2'34.4609	0.1485	233.069
5	K. Kirkwood Andretti Global	27	4	+0.6581 2'34.6634	0.2025	232.764
6	K. Larson Arrow McLaren/Rick Hendrick	17	4	+0.7912 2'34.7965	0.1331	232.563
7	F. Rosenqvist Meyer Shank Racing	60	4	+0.8021 2'34.8074	0.0109	232.547
8	S. Ferrucci A.J. Foyt Enterprises	14	4	+0.8362 2'34.8415	0.0341	232.496
9	T. Sato Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	75	4	+0.8513 2'34.8566	0.0151	232.473
10	P. O'Ward Arrow McLaren	5	4	+0.8773 2'34.8826	0.0260	232.434
11	R. van Kalmthout Ed Carpenter Racing	21	4	+0.8877 2'34.8930	0.0104	232.419
12	R. Hunter-Reay Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports	23	4	+0.9100 2'34.9153	0.0223	232.385
13	C. Herta Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian	26	4	+0.9563 2'34.9616	0.0463	232.316
14	A. Palou Chip Ganassi Racing	10	4	+0.9629 2'34.9682	0.0066	232.306
15	C. Ilott Arrow McLaren	6	4	+1.0131 2'35.0184	0.0502	232.230
16	M. Armstrong Chip Ganassi Racing	11	4	+1.0451 2'35.0504	0.0320	232.183
17	E. Carpenter Ed Carpenter Racing	20	4	+1.1555 2'35.1608	0.1104	232.017
18	K. Simpson Chip Ganassi Racing	4	4	+1.2016 2'35.2069	0.0461	231.948
19	M. Andretti Andretti Herta Autosport with Marco & Curb-Agajani	98	4	+1.2405 2'35.2458	0.0389	231.890
20	H. Castroneves Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian	06	4	+1.2534 2'35.2587	0.0129	231.871
21	S. Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing	9	4	+1.2670 2'35.2723	0.0136	231.851
22	A. Canapino Juncos Hollinger Racing	78	4	+1.2697 2'35.2750	0.0027	231.847
23	R. Robb A.J. Foyt Enterprises	41	4	+1.2835 2'35.2888	0.0138	231.826
24	C. Rasmussen Ed Carpenter Racing	33	4	+1.3799 2'35.3852	0.0964	231.682
25	T. Blomqvist Meyer Shank Racing	66	4	+1.4501 2'35.4554	0.0702	231.578
26	R. Grosjean Juncos Hollinger Racing	77	4	+1.4929 2'35.4982	0.0428	231.514
27	L. Lundqvist Chip Ganassi Racing	8	4	+1.4981 2'35.5034	0.0052	231.506
28	C. Lundgaard Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	45	4	+1.5255 2'35.5308	0.0274	231.465
29	C. Daly Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports	24	4	+1.6750 2'35.6803	0.1495	231.243
30	P. Fittipaldi Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	30	4	+1.7715 2'35.7768	0.0965	231.100
31	K. Legge Dale Coyne Racing	51	4	+1.9534 2'35.9587	0.1819	230.830
32	M. Ericsson Andretti Global	28	4	+1.9978 2'36.0031	0.0444	230.765
33	G. Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	15	4	+2.0516 2'36.0569	0.0538	230.685
34	N. Siegel Dale Coyne Racing	18	4	+3.6985 2'37.7038	1.6469	228.276
View full results

What happened in Indy 500 last-chance qualifying?

There was a huge scare for 2022 Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson (Andretti), who miscounted his laps and backed off after the white flag on his first run. He had to run again and jumped to P2 with just minutes remaining.

Graham Rahal also went through the mill for the second consecutive season, his lack of speed in his Honda-powered No. 15 RLLR machine sparking memories of his painful 2023 Bump Day exit.

Katherine Legge (Dale Coyne Racing) hit the top spot despite two huge moments, an early wiggle at Turn 1 and then a big understeer at Turn 2 on her final tour, on her wild four-lap run for 230.092mph.

Dale Coyne Racing’s rookie Nolan Siegel found himself bumped, so he made one final attempt. He produced an opening lap of 229.288mph before clipping the wall on the exit of Turn 1 on lap two, which caused him to lose control and spin into the Turn 2 barriers. He was unhurt.

Indy 500 Last-Chance qualifying results: Siegel bumped

Main Information Additional Data Driver Info

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Cla	Driver	#	Laps	Time	Interval	Mph
1	K. Legge Dale Coyne Racing	51	4	2'36.4590		230.092
2	M. Ericsson Andretti Global	28	4	+0.0447 2'36.5037	0.0447	230.027
3	G. Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	15	4	+0.0806 2'36.5396	0.0359	229.974
4	N. Siegel Dale Coyne Racing	18	4	+0.3584 2'36.8174	0.2778	229.566
View full results