“A little bit of déjà vu” as Indy 500 pole s...

Felix Rosenqvist was left dejected after a dominant show all through qualifying fell aside within the battle for pole for the one hundred and tenth Working of the Indianapolis 500. 

The 34-year-old Swede was virtually untouchable and made his presence felt with a staggering 232.599mph four-lap common – which ended up being the quickest run of the whole day – throughout ‘all automobiles’ portion of qualifying that locked in 13-33 and transferred the remainder into the Quick 12. He was quickest as soon as extra within the Quick 12, advancing into the six-player battle for pole with a four-lap common of 232.065mph. 

Regardless of cooling observe situations normally proving favorable to hurry and grip, Rosenqvist’s luck went the other way as his #60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda bought slower with a four-lap outing of 231.375mph and slotted fourth.

The place did all of it go unsuitable?

“I do not know, it appeared like a clear run,” Rosenqvist informed Motorsport.com. 

Rosenqvist confirmed the crew did trim out his automobile barely previous to the Quick Six, however “saved it in the identical ballpark.” When he propelled together with his finest displaying within the afternoon, it occurred throughout the warmth of the day when the observe temperature was roughly 110F. Evaluating that to a slower run because the observe temperature dropped to underneath 95F is a part of why him going slower was extra puzzling. 

“The climate was pretty, just like the observe temp got here down, however the ambient temp (roughly 85F) was very similar to Q2 [Fast 12],” he mentioned. 

“So we, if something, we thought we had been going to go a contact faster. The whole lot was indicating that it was a greater situation. So, yeah, I do not know. We simply should look and see what occurred.” 

One attention-grabbing be aware is that Rosenqvist did have some blistering to his right-rear tire. 

“We had some blisters, however I do not know if that makes a change,” he mentioned. “It did not appear to actually upset me, so I do not assume that is it. Yeah, it simply wasn’t fast. However I do not assume that is it, as a result of I might inform from the warm-up lap that it wasn’t the identical.” 

And though the ache of that hurts, Rosenqvist is making an attempt to carry on to some optimism in having a robust automobile for subsequent Sunday’s race.

“, should you deliver again the angle a bit bit, it is a hell of a day,” Rosenqvist mentioned. “P4 out of 33 automobiles.

“I believe that the annoying factor for me is I have been on this state of affairs thrice now.”

In 2023 whereas driving for Arrow McLaren, Rosenqvist ended up qualifying third. After which final yr noticed one other robust outing finish by qualifying fifth.  

“And this yr the place I used to be P1 in Quick 12, after which simply form of had nothing in Quick Six,” he mentioned. “It is a bit little bit of déjà vu, so I am positively bummed about that.

“However within the grand scheme of issues, we’re nonetheless having a hell of a Could. Issues are trying good, so we’re simply going to brush this off and go into race working.”

In the end, Rosenqvist must wait one other yr making an attempt to turn into the primary Swedish-born driver to seize pole for “The Biggest Spectacle in Racing.”

“All these three years I discussed, we have truly been form of dominant, after which one thing’s occurring within the ultimate phase,” mentioned Rosenqvist, who has seven profession IndyCar poles. “So, yeah, it might be cool.

“I did not permit myself to dream of the pole, however I’ve had fairly many poles in IndyCar, and this one would imply most likely greater than all of them mixed. So, it is positively a bit irritating, however it’s a superb downside to have.” 

If he wins the race, although, will he recover from this intestine punch? 

“Undoubtedly.”

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– The Motorsport.com Group