Lundqvist navigates slick conditions to earn P1 at Road America
Linus Lundqvist – XPEL Grand Prix at Road America – Photo by Chris Owens
By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio
NTT IndyCar Series rookie Linus Lundqvist says qualifying in wet/dry conditions on a road-course re-defines the meaning of risk vs. reward.
Linus Lundqvist – XPEL Grand Prix at Road America – Photo by Chris Owens
“Yeah, I mean, it’s so difficult because you still have to be committed,” Lundqvist said after a frantic, damp qualifying session Saturday afternoon at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. “To be fast as well, you’re going to have to approach it almost like a dry lap or a dry session.”
That mindset carried Lundqvist to a trio of “firsts” en route to the NTT P1 Award for today’s XPEL Grand Prix at Road America presented by AMR. Lundqvist’s first forays into the Top-12 and Firestone Fast Six were capped by his first INDYCAR pole.
The 2022 INDY NXT by Firestone champion, Lundqvist earned P1 with a best lap of 1-minute, 45.1519- seconds/137.424 mph around Road America’s 4.104-mile/14-turn permanent, natural-terrain layout. Lundqvist’s previous best start for a points-paying race this season was 17th at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in April.
Linus Lundqvist – XPEL Grand Prix at Road America – Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo
“Yeah, it was hectic. It was crazy,” said Lundqvist, driver of the No. 8 American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. “I’d say one of the craziest qualifying sessions I’ve had. This feels like an average British F3 qualifying back in the day type of style, where you started off in torrential rain, then the last part it dried up, we threw on the slicks.
“It was kind of fun going back to that, a little bit back to my roots. Even growing up back in Sweden, half the races we did was in the rain. I’m pretty comfortable there. Obviously towards the end it was staying on-line, not touching the wet. That’s basically what I had in my mind. It happened to be good enough for pole.”
Linus Lundqvist – XPEL Grand Prix at Road America – Photo by Chris Owens
A 25-year-old native of Tyresö, Sweden, Lundqvist is the first NTT IndyCar Series rookie to register a pole since former Formula One regular Romain Grosjean of France in May 2021 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course. Lundqvist rolled into Round 7 of the 18-race series amid the frustration of three consecutive finishes of 24th or worse after earning his first career podium with a third-place result at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., in April.
“Thanks to the No. 8 crew for sticking with me,” Lundqvist said. “It’s been a rough couple of races. So, to be able to bounce back like this, it’s nice. There’s no better way of rebuilding confidence than with my first-ever pole in INDYCAR, in these conditions, as well.
“Personally, to even get temps into the tires, when it’s these dry/wet conditions, you have to push super-hard to get the tires up to temperature. If you’re just one foot or even half-a-foot with your outside wheels, you’re going to go off. That’s also what makes these conditions so exciting, because it’s very rewarding when you do put it together. But it’s so easy to be a foot off or half-a-foot off, and obviously have the opposite.”
Colton Herta – XPEL Grand Prix at Road America – Photo Chris Owens
Live coverage of the 55-lap/220.55-mile race from “America’s National Park of Speed” will start at 3:30 p.m. (EDT) on NBC and Peacock and 3 p.m. on the INDYCAR Radio Network. A 30-minute warmup is scheduled for at 12:15 p.m. with coverage on Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
Lundqvist is sharing Row 1 with Colton Herta after his top lap of 1:45.2913/137.242 mph in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda fielded by Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian. Herta was quickest in the first two groups of qualifying before falling just short to Lundqvist in the Firestone Fast Six.
“Very difficult,” said Herta, referring to the mixed conditions. “Probably one of the, if not the, most difficult qualifying session for me in INDYCAR so far. Just a lot of unknowns. Unknowns of what to do with the tires, where to brake, what the line is, how many laps. So very difficult.”
Colton Herta – XPEL Grand Prix at Road America – Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo
Herta ran the closing laps on Firestone’s alternate/softer Firehawk slick tires, rather than treaded wet-weather rubber. “It was dry enough. I don’t think it was too crazy,” Herta said. “The grip was there. I mean, you saw we went like 16, 17-seconds faster than on the wets.
“Yeah, I think driving style helps. I tend to drive a little bit more aggressive than a lot of people. I’m comfortable sliding the car. It helps in those slippery conditions to find the limit a little bit more comfortably. I think that’s the biggest thing to dial it down to, is when you’re not fighting a car in the wet, it makes such a big difference.”
Marcus Armstrong of New Zealand was the second young Chip Ganassi Racing driver to qualify in the first two rows, placing third at 1:45.6592/136.764 mph in the No. 11 Ridgeline Lubricants CGR Honda. Kyle Kirkwood will start fourth at 1:46.4498/135.748 mph in the No. 27 AutoNation Honda fielded by Andretti Global.
Will Power – XPEL Grand Prix at Road America – Photo by James Black
Team Penske’s Will Power and Josef Newgarden will start fifth and sixth, respectively, as best among the Chevrolet-powered entrants. Both drivers lost their two quickest laps during the Firestone Fast Six after triggering red flags and failing to record a time. The starting spots for both were determined by their best laps in the Top-12 session.
Power, of Australia, spun in Turn 12, known as Canada Corner, in his No. 12 Verizon Business Team Penske Chevrolet. Newgarden went off-track in “The Kink” section of the back straightaway and made heavy side contact with the SAFER Barrier in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet on his last flying lap. Newgarden, the two-time/reigning Indianapolis 500 champion, was uninjured.
Drivers used Firestone Firehawk rain tires in the first two qualifying sessions as torrential rain earlier in the day dissipated to light showers. But the rain stopped late in the Top-12 session, with a dry line starting to form before the Firestone Fast Six.
Josef Newgarden – XPEL Grand Prix at Road America – Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo
Five of six drivers in the final round of qualifying started and stayed on Firestone Firehawk alternate slick tires, with Lundqvist the only driver choosing to start on rain tires. But Lundqvist and Chip Ganassi Racing officials quickly realized that was the wrong choice and pitted for slicks after one out-lap.
The red flag triggered by Power turned the Firestone Fast Six into a one-lap dash for pole, as the track continued to dry and get faster with every lap. Lundqvist jumped to the top, and Herta crossed the timing line to take P2 just as Newgarden’s frightening crash unfolded and subsequent red flag ended the session.
“It was very tricky out there in the wet to start off with and going to dry tires,” Lundqvist said. “I think we were the only ones starting on wets, as well, so I kind of had to make a late switch there. But we made it work in the end, and man, I’m just super, super-happy.
Scott Dixon – XPEL Grand Prix at Road America – Photo by James Black
“Over the last couple races, the ‘Month of May’ (two races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway) was kind of rough for us. I kind of came in wanting to rebuild my confidence. Detroit was not a confidence-builder (finished 22nd, one-lap down last Sunday). It was a rough place. Coming in here was a bit of a reset. I mean, this is one way of doing it, I suppose. Dare I say, this was surprising even to me.
“I know it wasn’t a very conventional qualifying session, but either way I’m going to take it as a step forward. Hopefully we can just build on this confidence. Again, points are being handed out (Sunday). Firstly, it’s going to be the focus on that. Either way, it’s a good step forwards for us on Saturdays.”
Championship leader Scott Dixon will start 10th after his best lap of 2:01.2671/119.162 mph in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda from the Top-12. A six-time series champion from New Zealand, Dixon won the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on the Streets of Downtown Motown last Sunday.
Pato O’Ward – XPEL Grand Prix at Road America – Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo
Pato O’Ward placed 11th after his best lap of 2:01.5141/118.920 mph in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. “It was a slippery day, both in practice and qualifying,” said O’Ward, a native of Mexico with family ties to San Antonio. “I thought we had a little bit more pace to find, maybe even enough for the Firestone Fast Six.
“We just got stuck there a little bit in Round 2 and couldn’t really get what we needed from the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. We’ll have to work hard and see what we can do (today) to make our way forward.”
Meanwhile, Dallas resident Santino Ferrucci will roll off 19th on the grid after a disappointing hot lap of 2:03.8144/116.710 mph in the No. 14 Sexton Properties Chevrolet fielded by A.J. Foyt Racing.
Ferrucci posted a “banker lap” on his first set of rain tires and then pitted for a second set of rubber, believing the fresh set would be needed. He was on what would have been his optimal lap _ quicker than his first run _ when he had to abort due to traffic. With little time left in the round and the car not quite as responsive, Santino’s next lap proved slower.
“We’re not where we wanted to qualify,” Ferrucci said. “I think we have a better car than that. Hindsight’s 20/20 and we just made ourselves a lot of work for Sunday.”
Jamie Chadwick made open-wheel history by winning her first career INDY NXT by Firestone pole Saturday during qualifying for the Grand Prix at Road America.
Jamie Chadwick – Indy NXT By Firestone Grand Prix at Road America – Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo
Chadwick, a native of Great Britain, turned a top lap of 1-minute, 51.0333-seconds/130.145 mph in the No. 28 VEXT car fielded by Andretti Global to become the first female driver to earn a pole on a road or street-course in the history of INDYCAR’s developmental series. She also is only the third female driver to win an INDY NXT pole and first since Pippa Mann in October 2010 on the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway oval.
“I’m so happy,” said Chadwick, a 26-year-old native of Bath, Somerset, England. “We struggled a little bit this weekend chasing balance. When (teammate) Louis Foster did the lap he did, I knew we would have a good car. Track conditions improving, this is our shot in our group, as well. I really thought we could make the most of this opportunity. It’s going to be a tough day (today) but I’m confident in what we can do.”
Live coverage of the 20-lap/55-minute timed race is scheduled to start at 1:05 p.m. (EDT) on Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
Chadwick’s previous best starting spot was fourth last Sunday on the Streets of Detroit, as her speed and confidence continue to accelerate during her second INDY NXT season. She was a member of the second qualifying group Saturday at Road America in the split-session format used by the series on road and street-courses. Drivers in that group benefited from the rapidly drying 4.014-mile/14-turn natural terrain layout as all-afternoon rain gave way to clearing skies about 30 minutes before qualifying began.
Fellow-Brit Foster locked-out the front row for Andretti Global after his best lap of 1:51.0541/130.120 mph in the No. 26 Copart/Novara Technologies car. Foster will try to become the first driver since Linus Lundqvist _ who, coincidentally, won his first career NTT IndyCar Series pole earlier in the day _ to win three consecutive INDY NXT races. Lundqvist recorded his motorized hat-trick in 2022.
Josh Pierson recorded a career-best starting spot of third at 1:51.1621/129.994 mph in the No. 14 HMD Motorsports machine. His previous best was sixth in May 2023 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course. Championship leader Jacob Abel will start fourth at 1:51.2702/129.868 mph in the No. 51 Abel Construction entry of Abel Motorsports.
HMD Motorsports teammates Reece Gold and Caio Collet occupy Row 3. Gold qualified fifth at 1:51.5069/129.592 mph in the No. 10 machine, with Collet the top rookie in sixth at 1:51.4054/129.710 mph in the No. 18 car.
Qualifying results for today’s XPEL Grand Prix at Road America presented by AMR NTT IndyCar Series event on the 4.014-mile/14-turn circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wis., with qualifying position, car number in parentheses, driver, engine, time and speed in parentheses:
1.(8) Linus Lundqvist, Honda, 01:45.1519 (137.424 mph)
2. (26) Colton Herta, Honda, 01:45.2913 (137.242)
3. (11) Marcus Armstrong, Honda, 01:45.6592 (136.764)
4. (27) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, 01:46.4498 (135.748)
5. (12) Will Power, Chevrolet, No Time (No Speed)
6. (2) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, No Time (No Speed)
7. (10) Alex Palou, Honda, 02:00.8290 (119.594)
8. (3) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 02:00.8840 (119.539)
9. (7) Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, 02:00.9035 (119.520)
10. (9) Scott Dixon, Honda, 02:01.2671 (119.162)
11. (5) Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 02:01.5141 (118.920)
12. (4) Kyffin Simpson, Honda, 02:01.6266 (118.810)
13. (45) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 02:02.3826 (118.076)
14. (77) Romain Grosjean, Chevrolet, 02:01.7626 (118.677)
15. (28) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 02:02.6460 (117.822)
16. (20) Christian Rasmussen, Chevrolet, 02:02.0944 (118.354)
17. (21) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 02:02.7088 (117.762)
18. (6) Theo Pourchaire, Chevrolet, 02:02.1745 (118.277)
19. (14) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, 02:03.8144 (116.710)
20. (18) Jack Harvey, Honda, 02:02.9443 (117.536)
21. (78) Nolan Siegel, Chevrolet, 02:05.0248 (115.580)
22. (60) Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, 02:03.3098 (117.188)
23. (51) Luca Ghiotto, Honda, 02:05.1341 (115.479)
24. (15) Graham Rahal, Honda, 02:04.8213 (115.769)
25. (30) Pietro Fittipaldi, Honda, 02:05.6079 (115.044)
26. (41) Sting Ray Robb, Chevrolet, 02:04.8553 (115.737)
27. (66) Helio Castroneves, Honda, 02:09.6837 (111.428)
NTT IndyCar Series point standings _ 1, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, 216; 2, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, 198; 3, Will Power, Team Penske, 185; 4, Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, 160; 5, Alexander Rossi, Arrow McLaren, 150; 6, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, 148; 7, Colton Herta, Andretti Global, 147; 8, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, 141; 9, Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 140; 10, Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, 128;
11, Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 122; 12, Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing, 117; 13, Marcus Armstrong, Chip Ganassi Racing, 116; 14, Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, 108; 15, Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing, 103; 16, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 101; 17, Romain Grosjean, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 86; 18, Linus Lundqvist, Chip Ganassi Racing, 81; 19, Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, 76; 20, Augustin Canapino, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 74;
21, Pietro Fittipaldi, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 67; 22, Jack Harvey, Dale Coyne Racing, 60; 23, Theo Pourchaire, Arrow McLaren, 58; 24, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, 55; 25, Sting Ray Robb, A.J. Foyt Racing, 46; 26, Tom Blomqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 46; 27, Callum Ilott, Arrow McLaren, 39; 28, Conor Daly, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing-Cusick Motorsports, 21; 29, Kyle Larson, Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren, 21; 30, Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 19;
31, Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, 15; 32, Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, 14; 33, Luca Ghiotto, Dale Coyne Racing, 14; 34, Tristan Vautier, Dale Coyne Racing, 12; 35, Nolan Siegel, Dale Coyne Racing, 10; 36, Colin Braun, Dale Coyne Racing, 10; 37, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing-Cusick Motorsports, 6; 38, Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta with Marco & Curb Agajanian, 5; 39, Katherine Legge, Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing, 5.
