The Iceman does it again. Scott Dixon picked up his fifth career Indianapolis 500 pole in tremendous fashion. He set the fastest four lap average in Indy 500 qualifying history.
Dixon ran a four lap average of 234.046MPH to set the pace. He was the final car to take time in the Fast Six as part of the 106th Indianapolis 500 qualifying. During his run, Dixon was able to beat out his Ganassi Racing teammate and defending NTT IndyCar Series Champion Alex Palou and Rinus Veekay.
'@ScottDixon9 gets a warm reception from the @IMS crowd!
He wins the pole position for Sunday's #indy500 on @NBC. pic.twitter.com/15qa5y9qts
— IndyCar on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 22, 2022
As he did in 2008, Dixon looks to win the Greatest Spectacle in Motorsports from the pole position. He will lead the field to green for the fifth time at Indy and did so in blazing time. After setting a really good four lap average in the Top-12 qualifying, Dixon went off in the Fast Six.
Dixon broke a 25-year record that was set by Scott Brayton. Brayton went 233.718MPH back in 1996. Now, Dixon sits one pole away from tying the all-time record holder, Rick Mears. The pole by Dixon is the first back-to-back Indianapolis 500 pole winner since Ed Carpenter.
Chip Ganassi Racing and Ed Carpenter Racing had a stranglehold on the Fast Six. Ganassi had all five cars make it to the Top-12 qualifying with Dixon and Palou as well as Tony Kanaan, who is running a one time only event, Marcus Ericsson and Jimmie Johnson, the 7-time Nascar Cup Series Champion. All of them made the final 12 and only Jimmie Johnson did not advance to the final six.
Johnson had no chance in the final 12 after he nearly wrecked on the opening lap of his four lap run. A miraculous save and staying in the gas, Johnson was still able to post an impressive four lap average given the circumstances. However, had the slip not happened, Johnson too would have been in contention for the pole.
"Gather it up. Refocus."@jimmiejohnson makes slight contact in turn 2 during his qualifying run.
Watch live on @NBC and @peacockTV: https://t.co/7aweZcszVk#INDYCAR // #Indy500 // @IMS pic.twitter.com/BTux7qGAmC
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) May 22, 2022
Last year’s Indy 500 runner-up, Alex Palou rolls off second. He was just edged out by Dixon on the final laps of qualifying. Palou battled with Helio Castroneves last year before Castroneves went onto win his record tying fourth Indianapolis 500 win. Palou has shown speed all month long. Coming off of his championship last year, Palou would like to add another key piece to the resume with an Indianapolis 500 win.
Indiana’s favorite son, Ed Carpenter will make a one-off start in the Indianapolis 500. After sitting in second for majority of Fast Six, Carpenter pulled out a fourth best qualifying run to start in row two on Sunday. Carpenter’s team car, Rinus Veekay starts on the front row.
Ericsson and Kanaan round out the top six places in qualifying.
The 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 is Sunday with green flag time scheduled for 11:30AM Central on NBC.
Indianapolis 500 Top-12 Qualifiers:
1. Scott Dixon, Honda, 234.046 mph.
2. Alex Palou, Honda, 233.499.
3. Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 233.385.
4. Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 233.080.
5. Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 232.764.
6. Tony Kanaan, Honda, 232.3
7. Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet 232.705.
8. Felix Rosenqvist, Chevrolet, 232.182.
9. Romain Grosjean, Honda, 231.999.
10. Takuma Sato, Honda, 231.670.
11. Will Power, Chevrolet, 231.354.
12. Jimmie Johnson, Honda, 231.264.
