Josef Newgarden is stepping up a gear. Already poleman last week of the second race of the doubleheader of Detroit, the double IndyCar champion did it again at Road America.
With a fastest lap of 1’46”0186 in Fast6 (Q3), he edged Colton Herta (ANdretti) by 2 / 10th and Jack Harvey (Meyer Shank) by 7 / 10th.
Newgarden also achieved his best time on hard tires, which will allow him to benefit from a set of new soft tires for the race more than his competitors in the Fast6.
Josef Newgarden with the hard compound takes the pole at Road America!
His 2nd of the season and back to back. The No.13 that achieves in #IndyCar#REVGroupGPpic.twitter.com/4tP4sro3TB— DC12F1 (@DC12F1) June 19, 2021
His pole completed a convincing qualification for Team Penske, as three of its members were among the six fastest in qualifying.
Will Power will start from 4th row, while Simon Pagenaud will start 6th, just ahead of Romain Grosjean.
The Genevan was the last eliminated from Q2. For only 5/100, he found himself deprived of the opportunity to sign a new pole, after his feat at the Indy GP. “I struggled a bit to find rhythm, explained the Dale Coyne Racing driver, but we have a good starting position which will give us more freedom in terms of strategy».
Sébastien Bourdais was also in the game for a long time to join the fast6, and will finally start from 11th place. “As soon as the temperatures climbed, the trail became difficult for us, explained the leader of AJ Foyt Racing, and on top of that I made a mistake on my quick second lap, but we still did a good job so far.»
Still ex-F1 ray, debutant Kevin Magnussen, McLaren SP luxury freelance writer, will start from 21st position.
Find in the n ° 2317 of AUTOhebdo, on sale Monday evening in digital version and Wednesday in kiosks, the analysis of the round of Road America.
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