IndyCar: Herta leads Honda sweep in Mid-Ohio Qualifying

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Andretti Honda driver Colton Herta won the pole position for the Honda Indy 200 at Mi-Ohio in an exciting Fast Six Shootout that was not decided until the very last lap.

Herta’s lap of 1m06.3096s just beat Graham Rahal by 0.0432s and Herta’s Andretti teammate Kyle Kirkwood by 0.0597s.

Honda-powered cars swept the top-6 qualifying positions. Kirkwood was followed by the Hondas of Alex Palou,  Christian Lundgaard and Scott Dixon.

For Herta, it was the 11th pole of his still-young career and second in as many races as he also earned the top starting position for last month’s Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America presented by AMR. He will seek his first race win of the season Sunday in The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2023 Accord Hybrid.

“Really happy to get two in a row,” Herta said, smiling.

For Rahal, it was a mixed emotional bag. Being second in qualifying was his best effort in four-plus years – since early in the 2019 season — and he reached the Firestone Fast Six for the first time since late in 2021. But he very much wanted the pole at his home track.

“I’m not going to lie — it was a good lap, and I knew it was solid,” Rahal said. “I was bummed to not get a pole.”

Unique to this Firestone Fast Six were the decisions to use different tire compounds. Herta and series leader Alex Palou (No. 10 The American Legion Honda) of Chip Ganassi Racing opted to finish the session with new primary tires while Rahal and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing teammate Christian Lundgaard (No. 45 Vivid Clear Rx Honda) went with used alternate tires.

Herta’s teammate, Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 AutoNation Honda), wasn’t even sure Herta made the right choice as Kirkwood earned the No. 3 starting position with used alternates.

“I think it was the right call to split the strategy a little bit,” Kirkwood said. “But honestly, I don’t think that (Herta) made the right call. He still put it on pole and drove super well.”

Said Herta: “It was a tough call. Reds and blacks were pretty close on the second run and new, so it wasn’t an easy (decision). But (the team) gave me a car that was good on both tire compounds, so we had the option to run (either).”

Pato O’Ward set the early pace in Group 1 for Arrow McLaren with 1m06.9058s but spun exiting the Keyhole and stalled his engine, causing a red flag that meant he could no longer progress.

“It was all on me on that one,” O’Ward said. “I lost the rear and (the car) got to an angle where I couldn’t save it, and then I stalled it as soon as I got in the grass. It frickin’ (stinks).”

Also eliminated early was Alexander Rossi (McLaren), who will start 13^th ahead of Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden , Ryan Hunter-Reay, Helio Castroneves, Agustin Canapino, and Benjamin Pedersen (AJ Foyt Racing).

Meyer Shank Racing’s Simon Pagenaud was not cleared to return to action Saturday after his big crash in practice this morning. He will be evaluated Sunday morning. The team has asked series veteran Conor Daly to be on standby in the event Pagenaud can’t drive in the race.

Qualifying Results

Pursuant to rule 8.3.6 , Car 5 has lost their 2 fastest laps.

(C)hassis: D=Dallara | (E)ngine: C=Chevy, H=Honda | (T)ire: F=Firestone