O'Ward Claims First IndyCar Pole Since 2022 as McLaren Dominates Thermal Qualifying
Pato O'Ward secured his first pole position since 2022, leading an Arrow McLaren front-row lockout at The Thermal Club's 3.067-mile road course. O'Ward's No. 5 Chevrolet clocked a commanding 1m39.9567s, with teammate Christian Lundgaard following in second at 1m40.1245s.
Chip Ganassi Racing's Alex Palou claimed third (1m40.3092s), followed by Andretti Global's Colton Herta (1m40.3978s) and Marcus Ericsson (1m40.7435s). Ed Carpenter Racing's Alexander Rossi rounded out the Fast Six (1m41.0359s).
Racing driver kneeling in yellow suit
Team Penske faced unexpected challenges, with all three drivers failing to advance from the initial qualifying round. Josef Newgarden (P17), Will Power (P21), and Scott McLaughlin (P25) will need to make significant progress in Sunday's 65-lap race.
The qualifying session saw varying conditions with temperatures reaching 84-85 degrees under clear skies. Notable moments included McLaughlin's early spin on primary tires and a strong showing from Honda-powered cars in the Firestone Fast 12, though Chevrolet ultimately dominated the front positions.
Alt text: IndyCar qualifying results at Thermal Club
O'Ward, who had struggled with qualifying performance earlier in the season, including a disappointing 23rd place at St. Petersburg, showed remarkable improvement. "Maybe I figured out how to drive quickly again," O'Ward remarked after his victory.
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