The highly anticipated Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway, a pivotal oval event in the NTT IndyCar Series calendar, delivered an electrifying qualifying session that set the stage for a dramatic race. Team Penske showcased formidable pace, with teammates Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden securing the top two positions, a testament to their strength on short ovals. McLaughlin initially claimed pole position, demonstrating exceptional speed, but the complexities of IndyCar regulations intervened, reshuffling the starting grid and adding an unforeseen twist to the championship battle.
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While Scott McLaughlin undoubtedly proved to be the fastest driver on track, clocking an impressive two-lap average qualifying speed of 182.951 miles per hour (294.431 kilometres per hour), it will be his teammate Josef Newgarden who leads the field to green. McLaughlin, along with five other prominent drivers, faced a significant nine-place grid penalty. This penalty stemmed from exceeding the allotted pool of four engines for the season, a crucial rule designed to manage costs and ensure fair competition throughout the demanding IndyCar schedule. The enforcement of this rule significantly impacted the starting order, transforming a dominant qualifying performance into a strategic challenge for multiple teams and championship contenders alike.
The list of drivers affected by these engine change penalties reads like a who’s who of the IndyCar paddock, fundamentally altering the complexion of the starting grid. Championship leader Alex Palou and his Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Scott Dixon and Takuma Sato were all among those penalized. Joining them were Andretti Autosport’s Kyle Kirkwood and Juncos Hollinger Racing rookie Agustin Canapino. The sheer number of top-tier drivers receiving penalties underscores the intense strategic planning required to manage engine mileage and the fine margins teams operate within. For McLaughlin, despite the penalty, his raw speed was officially recognized with the P1 Award, earning him a valuable championship point, though he is now expected to start the race from tenth position.
This penalty drama catapults Josef Newgarden, a three-time winner of the Gateway event, into the coveted pole position. For Newgarden, this presents a monumental opportunity to achieve a clean sweep of all five oval races in the 2023 IndyCar season, a feat that would solidify his status as a modern oval master. More critically, it breathes new life into his championship aspirations. While the points gap to championship leader Alex Palou remains substantial with only three races left in the season, inheriting the pole provides Newgarden with the best possible starting point to launch what would be an improbable but thrilling comeback. His relentless pursuit of victory on ovals, combined with this unexpected advantage, adds an exciting layer of intrigue to the Bommarito Automotive Group 500.
The ripple effect of the engine penalties was felt throughout the top ten. Colton Herta, qualifying third-fastest, emerged as the leading Honda-powered driver, showcasing the potential of the Andretti Autosport team. He will now move up to a front-row start alongside Newgarden, setting up a tantalizing battle between Chevrolet and Honda powerplants from the very beginning. McLaren driver Pato O’Ward continued his consistent form, qualifying fourth and now benefiting from the penalties to start even higher. Alex Palou, despite his impressive fifth-place qualifying effort, will be forced to start from the middle of the fiercely competitive 28-car field, a significant setback for a driver focused on clinching the championship early. His engine change penalty, announced just hours before the race, means he faces a formidable task to navigate through traffic and secure the points needed.
The championship narrative for Alex Palou is now more complex than anticipated. Entering the Gateway weekend, Palou held a commanding lead, and the opportunity to clinch his second NTT IndyCar Series title was within reach. To seal the championship today, he needs to score at least seven more points than his closest challenger and Ganassi teammate, Scott Dixon, and four more points than Josef Newgarden. Starting from the mid-pack due to his penalty means he must execute a near-flawless race, making strategic overtakes and avoiding any incidents in a race notorious for its intensity and close-quarters action. The pressure is immense, and Palou’s ability to manage traffic and maintain a high pace will be rigorously tested.
Further down the original qualifying order, Felix Rosenqvist, driving for McLaren, secured sixth fastest, demonstrating his team’s consistent performance. Scott Dixon, who also received an engine penalty, qualified seventh but will now face the challenge of climbing through the field, mirroring Palou’s predicament. Takuma Sato, another Ganassi driver impacted by the penalty, qualified eighth. Rounding out the original top 10 were Romain Grosjean for Andretti Autosport and David Malukas for Dale Coyne Racing with HMD, both showing solid pace. These drivers, too, will see their starting positions shift, adding further unpredictability to the initial stages of the race.
The qualifying session was not without its drama, with a significant incident in yesterday evening’s practice impacting two former champions. Will Power, the reigning IndyCar Series champion, had a challenging session, spinning out of turn two and being hit head-on by Marcus Ericsson. Both drivers were forced into rebuilt or new cars for qualifying, a testament to the quick work of their respective teams. Power managed to qualify 12th-fastest, impressively matching his car number, showcasing his resilience and the team’s ability to prepare a competitive machine on short notice. Ericsson, however, qualified further down in 18th position in a backup car that was originally prepared for Alex Palou, highlighting the immediate impact of the incident on his performance. Ericsson’s performance also comes amidst news of his announced move to Andretti Autosport next season, adding another layer to his current season’s narrative.
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In other notable performances within the middle of the order, Conor Daly made an impactful debut for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Driving the car previously occupied by Jack Harvey, Daly qualified an impressive 15th. This strong showing is particularly noteworthy as he outqualified both of his full-time RLL teammates, Graham Rahal and Christian Lundgaard, immediately making a statement in his first outing with the team. Daly’s performance adds another dimension to the competitive mid-field, proving his capability and adaptability within the challenging IndyCar environment. The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 promises to be a race filled with strategic plays, daring overtakes, and intense battles from start to finish, with the shuffled grid adding an extra layer of excitement for fans and challenges for the drivers.
Gateway 500 qualifying results
| Position | Car | Driver | Team | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Scott McLaughlin | Penske | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 2 | Josef Newgarden | Penske | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 26 | Colton Herta | Andretti | Honda |
| 4 | 5 | Pato O’Ward | McLaren | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 10 | Alex Palou | Ganassi | Honda |
| 6 | 6 | Felix Rosenqvist | McLaren | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 9 | Scott Dixon | Ganassi | Honda |
| 8 | 11 | Takuma Sato | Ganassi | Honda |
| 9 | 28 | Romain Grosjean | Andretti | Honda |
| 10 | 18 | David Malukas | Coyne/HMD | Honda |
| 11 | 7 | Alexander Rossi | McLaren | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 12 | Will Power | Penske | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 27 | Kyle Kirkwood | Andretti | Honda |
| 14 | 77 | Callum Ilott | Juncos Hollinger | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 30 | Conor Daly | RLL | Honda |
| 16 | 60 | Linus Lundqvist | Meyer Shank | Honda |
| 17 | 06 | Helio Castroneves | Meyer Shank | Honda |
| 18 | 8 | Marcus Ericsson | Ganassi | Honda |
| 19 | 29 | Devlin DeFrancesco | Andretti | Honda |
| 20 | 45 | Christian Lundgaard | RLL | Honda |
| 21 | 78 | Agustin Canapino | Juncos Hollinger | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 21 | Rinus VeeKay | Carpenter | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 15 | Graham Rahal | RLL | Honda |
| 24 | 20 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | Carpenter | Chevrolet |
| 25 | 51 | Sting Ray Robb | Coyne/RWR | Honda |
| 26 | 55 | Benjamin Pedersen | Foyt | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 14 | Santino Ferrucci | Foyt | Chevrolet |
| 28 | 33 | Ed Carpenter | Carpenter | Chevrolet |
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