IndyCar News: Ferrucci wins pole for AJ Foyt in Portland

Santino Ferrucci delivered AJ Foyt Racing its first NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole since 2014 by earning the NTT P1 Award for the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland.

Ferrucci earned his first career series pole in his first-ever appearance in the Firestone Fast Six, turning a top lap of 58.2046 seconds at Portland International Raceway – in the No. 14 Phoenix Investors Chevrolet owned by legendary four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt.

“I think it’s no secret how hard we’ve been working this year, how hard I’ve been working, Larry (team president Larry Foyt), our entire staff,” Ferrucci said. “Hell, I’ve got some more bargaining power for next year. I love it.

“What Larry and I have been building here at this team, I’m so proud of him, so proud of what we’ve accomplished. I just can’t wait for the future. This is just a glimpse of what we’ve got.”

Two-time series champion Will Power will share the front row for the 110-lap race Sunday after qualifying second at 58.3120 in the No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet.

The front-row lockout was the high point so far of the technical alliance between Team Penske and AJ Foyt Racing that started this season.

Series points leader Alex Palou will start third in his No. 10 Ganassi Honda, 0.23s behind Ferrucci.

Christian Lundgaard was 4th quick in his No. 45 RLLR Honda, 0.38s behind Ferrucci while the No. 27 Andretti Honda of Kyle Kirkwood rounded out the top-5, 0.39s behind Ferrucci.

Graham Rahal was the last of the Fast Six Qualifiers  and will start 6th on Sunday.

Colton Herta qualified 10th in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda of Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian after an off-track excursion and wheelspin exiting a corner hurt two of his laps in the second round of qualifying. Six-time series champion Scott Dixon, third in points, qualified 11th in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Herta and Dixon will start eighth and ninth, respectively, due to the grid penalties of Kirkwood and Rahal.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was Scott McLaughlin, fifth in points, qualifying 14th in the No. 3 Freightliner Team Penske Chevrolet after leading both practice sessions. Judging traffic on the short road course was the culprit, he said.

“I just didn’t find the gap where I should have,” McLaughlin said. “Pretty disappointed. You just can’t afford to … even if the car is a second in front of you, it (turbulence) disturbs it enough to slow it down.”

Grid Penalties

McLaughlin will take an engine change before tomorrow’s race — his 5th engine of the year — meaning he’ll drop to starting 20th with a 6-spot grid penalty.

In addition to McLaughlin & the 3 grid penalties announced yesterday (Rahal, Kirkwood & Malukas), Kyffin Simpson will also take one, moving him to last (28th) after qualifying 26th.

The teams were in violation of:

Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5^th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5^th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine change-out.

According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland Sunday, Aug. 25 at PIR.

Qualifying Results

Pursuant to Rule 8.3.7.3, Car 10 Lost Best Lap to This Point with Ability to Advance