IndyCar: Power Breaks Series Pole Record with number 68 at Firestone Grand Prix at Monterey

Team Penske’s Will Power surpassed Mario Andretti’s pole record by winning the final pole of the season with a time of  1.11.6127  and won one more point towards the Championship.

Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Callum Ilott, qualifying in the first Firestone Fast 6, took the second spot with a time of 1.11.6320.

Andretti Autosports Alexander Rossi qualified third with a time of 1.11.7698.

Rossi’s teammate, Romain Grosjean put down a time of 1.11.7858  to get the fourth starting position.

Chip Ganassi’s Alex Palou, the defending Series Champion, will start fifth and qualified with a time of 1.11.4542.

Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward turned in a time of 1.11.4542 and will start sixth.

The first qualifying group did not have a good run.  Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, made a mistake and made the session shorter by getting caught off the track in Turn 8 and was not able to get the car back out on his own.  Being upset at himself was not enough because causing the red flag meant  he lost all lap times and could not advance to the next group.  He will start 25th tomorrow.

The red flag hurt Scott Dixon, who is tied with Newgarden for second place in the championship.  The red flag shortened the time for the session and Dixon only put in five laps.  He will start 13th .

The Group 2 qualifying session saw a drive-thru penalty for AJ Foyt Racing’s Dalton Kellett.  Then Marcus Ericsson, running third in the points spun on track and received a penalty for causing a local yellow, which resulted in him losing his best-timed lap.  The Swede will start 10th.

Will Power

“Well, I earned one point for the pole, ” Power commented,   “I plan on leading the first lap, which is another point, and if you get a real run you can lead the most laps, it’s another. Just keep going like that.”

‘”Yep, I am super focused, man. I want to give all the boys my best, give my team the best because that’s what they’ve done for me this year.”

Power was asked what it felt like to be in pit lane with all the celebrating on his 68th pole.

“I was actually standing there, I saw Roger there, I saw Mario there and all the cameras, I thought, This is really surreal. It just blows my mind that I can be — I surpassed Mario and obviously I drive for Roger, but just to have those two legends there congratulating me, it’s real, and a lot of gratitude for the chances and the opportunities I’ve been given over the last decade and a half.”

“Very fortunate. Very fortunate, and I want to repay them back with a championship tomorrow.”

CAN YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ACHIEVED TODAY?

“Tremendous milestone. To be up there with an iconic guy like Mario is amazing. When I think about the era that he raced in, how dangerous it was and how much more a risk it was, it just blows my mind that I’m there with Mario. It’s great to have Mario here. Someone I respect tremendously and was a massive fan of growing up. I want to swap a helmet with him, put his in my collection if he would do it.”

WHAT ALLOWED YOU THIS YEAR TO WIN ALL THE POLES TO GET TO THIS MOMENT? 

“Really focusing in on certain races that we knew we had a good shot at pole.”

NOW THE FOCUS TURNS TOWARD TOMORROW. WHAT IS THE MINDSET?

“We put ourselves in a great position to lead the first lap to get one point and hopefully lead the most laps to get more points. Competitors with better tires but we have track position for right now, so we’ll have a good think about it tonight and see how we attack that one. But it will be a long day. I’ll do my best. ”

Mario Andretti, who held the record with 67 poles:

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS MAN?

“Awesome. I know how much I loved qualifying and I can see that he’s the same. It’s just trying to reach and just try to do the lap that you cannot repeat and that’s what puts you on pole.”

DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS MOMENT WOULD EVENTUALLY COME?

“Absolutely. It’s great fort the series, great for the sport. Records are made to be broken. It’s with a good man. Will Power throughout his career has been a really good qualifier. He deserves this. He’s worked for it and he’s the best when it comes to qualifying.”

WHAT IS IT THAT SETS A DRIVER APART IN QUALIFYING?

“How badly do you want it? If I had the specific formula I’d bottle it and sell it. It’s just a matter of really wanting it and just doing that lap that you know you can’t repeat. That’s how records are made.”

Qualifying Results

Lucille Dust reporting live from Laguna Seca