Dixon takes Indy pole; fastest speeds in 21 years
Scott Dixon had the fastest lap and the fastest four-lap qualifying average in 21 years Sunday to win his third Indianapolis 500 pole.
The New Zealander who won the 2008 Indy 500 finished with a qualifying speed of 232.164 mph, the best since Arie Luyendyk’s track record of 236.986 in 1996. Dixon’s first lap of 232.595 also was the fastest since Luyendyk’s record lap of 237.498 in 1996.
“We knew the conditions were much better today and we took a little bit of a gamble in trimming out,” said a giddy-looking Dixon. “When I saw it, I was a little surprised myself.”
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver will be joined on the front row in Sunday’s race by Ed Carpenter, a two-time pole winner who finished second at 231.664. Defending race champion Alexander Rossi of Andretti Autosport will start on the outside of Row 1 after going 231.487.
Sausalito’s JR Hildebrand (230.889) will start on the outside of Row 1 in sixth.
Rookie Fernando Alonso will start fifth in his first oval race Sunday. The two-time Formula One champion averaged 231.200.
It’s the first time in this season’s six races that a Penske driver didn’t win the pole. Will Power was Team Penske’s top qualifier on the 21⁄2-mile oval. He’ll start ninth.
James Davison will replace Sebastien Bourdais in Dale Coyne Racing’s No. 18 car and start last (33rd) in the Indy 500.
Bourdais crashed during Saturday’s qualifying, leaving him with multiple fractures in his pelvis and a fractured right hip. The French driver had pelvic surgery and was recovering in a hospital Sunday.
He’ll probably miss the rest of the season.
“I want to thank everybody for the support and the messages, quite a few drivers have already dropped by,” Bourdais said in a statement.
Ron Capps raced to his fourth consecutive Funny Car victory, beating teammate Matt Hagan in the NHRA Heartland Nationals in Topeaka, Kan. Capps had a 3.924-second pass at 321.42 mph in a Dodge Charger R/T in the final to become the first driver to win four straight in one season since Robert Hight in 2012.