Indianapolis 500 qualifying outcomes: Robert Shwartzman stuns the sector to take pole

At the moment, the total area for the 109th Indianapolis might be set.

Saturday’s Full-Subject qualifying set spots 13-30 on the grid, however Sunday brings three essential classes that may full the sector from the automobile that may begin thirty third on the grid, to the automobile that may begin in pole place.

The primary session is the Quick 12, which consists of the quickest 12 automobiles from Saturday’s Full-Subject qualifying session. Every automobile is assured one four-lap run throughout the session, with the order decided based mostly on the velocity chart from Saturday, beginning with the slowest automobile of the 12. Listed below are the drivers who’re taking part within the Quick 12:

Alex Palou
Josef Newgarden
Pato O’Ward
Scott Dixon
Robert Shwartzman
David Malukas
Felix Rosenqvist
Takuma Sato
Will Energy
Marcus Ericsson
Christian Lundgaard
Scott McLaughlin

Extra on McLaughlin in a second.

On the finish of 1 hour, the highest six automobiles will advance to the Firestone Quick Six, whereas the underside half will fill out spots 7-12 within the Indianapolis 500.

Then comes Final Likelihood Qualifying. With 34 automobiles entered and simply 33 spots on the grid, the underside 4 automobiles from Saturday’s session will duke it out over an hour for a spot within the area. Marco Andretti, Marcus Armstrong, Jacob Abel, and Rinus VeeKay are the 4 preventing for the ultimate three spots on this session.

Vehicles are assured one try at a four-lap qualifying run, and might make a number of makes an attempt till the clock expires.

Sunday ends with the Firestone Quick Six, with the highest six automobiles from the Quick 12 battling for pole place. This runs for half-hour, with every automobile assured one try at a four-lap qualifying run.

Listed below are the qualifying outcomes, with the highest six — and backside three — spots left to be stuffed:

We might be protecting the three classes stay, so observe alongside!

Notice: All instances are in Jap time.

Firestone Quick Six

7:21: Returning after a fast dinner break …

Right here is Shwartzman’s chat with FOX Sports activities after taking pole place:

6:59: ROBERT SHWARTZMAN WILL START THE 109TH INDIANAPOLIS 500 IN POLE POSITION! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 43 YEARS A ROOKIE WILL BE ON POLE POSITION FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS 500!

6:58: Rosenqvist’s second lap is a 232.098, which averages out to 232.301. Shwartzman is inching nearer and nearer to pole place with each second.

6:57: Rosenqvist is barely behind Shwartzman’s tempo after his first lap, which is available in at 232.505.

6:56: Rosenqvist is the final driver to take to the observe, as he was quickest within the Quick 12. Can he take pole away from Shwartzman, or we can have a rooke in P1 for the beginning of the Indianapolis 500 for the primary time in over 40 years?

6:56: “The automobile felt wonderful, it’s so quick,” says Shwartzman to FOX Sports activities. “I’m actually happy with the group … actually it feels unbelieveable.”

6:55: O’Ward’s effort is sweet for third in the meanwhile.

6:55: O’Ward’s first three laps have a mean of 232.166. He’s behind the tempo from each Shwartzman and Sato, however is in line for a possible front-row begin.

6:52: Pato O’Ward is up subsequent. This can be a good time to say that I interviewed the Arrow McLaren driver for an unique that may come out subsequent week.

6:51: ROBERT SHWARTZMAN WILL START ON THE FRONT ROW IN HIS FIRST INDIANAPOLIS 500. Shwartzman’s run of 232.790 is sweet sufficient for provisional pole, and with simply two drivers remaining he’s assured to begin no decrease than P3.

6:50: White flag waves for Shwartzman’s last lap, he’s presently at a mean of 232.792 which is forward of Sato.

6:49: Shwartzman’s second lap is available in at 232.931, with a mean of 233.049 over his first two laps. He has a shot at provisional pole …

6:48: Shwartzman’s first lap is available in at 233.166. He’s completely flying, however can he maintain this tempo over the following three laps?

6:47: Shwartzman is up now. A rookie IndyCar driver, for a first-year group, taking pole place on the Indianapolis 500 could be one HECK of a narrative …

6:45: Dixon’s effort is available in at 232.052. That places him forward of Palou, however behind Sato.

Three drivers stay, and Sato is inching nearer to a front-row begin.

6:43: Scott Dixon is up, and his first lap is available in at 232.537. He’s operating behind Sato, however appears to be gaining on him based mostly on the “ghost automobile” graphic from FOX Sports activities.

6:40: Palou’s effort of 231.378 is just good for second in the meanwhile. Sato stays in provisional pole place.

6:37: Palou takes to the observe now, because the championship chief has his eyes on pole place.

6:36: Sato deploys the hybrid enhance on his third lap, which ticks sooner than Lap 2 at 232.552. He comes throughout with a accomplished qualifying run at 232.478.

6:35: His second lap is available in at 232.308, which is a giant drop from his first.

6:33: Sato’s run is underway, and his first lap checks in at 233.024.

6:31: Now now we have the Firestone Quick Six. Takuma Sato, Alex Palou, Scott Dixon, Robert Shwartzman, Pato O’Ward, and Felix Rosenqvist are the six drivers left with a shot at pole place, and they’re going to every get one shot, in that order.

Final Likelihood Qualifying notes

6:25: Andretti, Armstrong, and VeeKay have booked spots within the 109th Indianapolis 500.

6:22: Abel falls brief, with a mean of 226.394. VeeKay is in, Abel is out.

“I really feel relieved, however no actual happiness,” says VeeKay to FOX Sports activities. “Sadly it was one of many two that was going to exit.

“Jacob’s not only a teammate, he’s a extremely good pal.”

6:21: Abel’s second lap is a 226.423, and his common is just 226.501. He nonetheless has the additional enhance from his hybrid system, which might make a giant distinction.

6:20: Abel’s first lap is available in at 226.579, which is behind the primary lap VeeKay posted.

6:17: VeeKay got here in at 226.913, and the door is totally open for Abel to knock him out of the Indianapolis 500.

His first try got here in at 227.740, and his second was simply 226.913. The door may be very a lot open.

Andretti and Armstrong are within the area, and now it’s all the way down to VeeKay and Abel with this final run.

6:16: VeeKay’s first two laps are within the books and he’s nicely off his tempo from his first try. This run might backfire on him if he finally ends up opening the door for Abel to leap forward of him.

6:13: Scratch that. VeeKay has simply taken to the observe and goes to go on offense. Relatively than wait to see what occurs with Abel, they’re placing in a lap forward of the rookie, to maybe clinch a spot and put Armstrong on the bubble as a substitute.

6:10: Underneath ten minutes stay, and Abel goes to have the ultimate qualifying try of Final Likelihood Qualifying. Both he places it within the present — and bumps out Dale Coyne Racing teammate Rinus VeeKay — or VeeKay would be the final automobile on the grid.

6:01: Abel turns a number of laps, aimed toward cooling the engine, earlier than returning to pit lane. The crew will bolt new tires on and he’ll head again out to try to clinch a spot within the present.

5:58: Abel is being pushed down pit lane, and is on the point of make one other run with simply over 20 minutes remaining.

5:47: Extra footage of Newgarden operating … and operating:

5:43: VeeKay’s effort is available in at 227.740, which is sweet sufficient for third and bumps Abel — his teammate at Dale Coyne Racing — out of the five hundred.

Nevertheless, over half-hour stay in Final Likelihood Qualifying.

5:40: Completely hilarious scenes on FOX Sports activities as cameras decide up Josef Newgarden operating to air out his frustration from not getting an opportunity to qualify. At one level Newgarden performs it as much as the FOX Sports activities cameras, as he runs parallel to the again straight as Rinus VeeKay on his first try in Final Likelihood Qualifying.

Right here is the clip of Newgarden first being noticed by the cameras:

5:37: Jacob Abel’s first qualifying run checks in at 227.112, which is nicely off the tempo from each Andretti and Armstrong. Abel slots in third for the second.

5:30: Marco Andretti places collectively 4 sturdy laps, with a mean of 229.741, which places him to the highest of the velocity charts right here in Final Likelihood Qualifying.

5:25: Armstrong units a benchmark of 229.091, which is now the velocity to beat.

Reminder: This session has a operating 60-minute clock. Drivers can take a number of makes an attempt at a four-lap qualifying run throughout Final Likelihood Qualifying.

5:21: Final Likelihood Qualifying is about to start. For one of many drivers, Marcus Armstrong, at present is an opportunity to rebound after a tough crash in apply yesterday. Armstrong is first to take to the observe within the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda.

4 Hondas will take part on this session.

Quick 12 qualifying notes

5:06: Right here is video of each Cindric and IndyCar Technical Director Kevin Blanch talking with FOX Sports activities:

5:01: Tim Cindric tells FOX Sports activities that “it’s a disgrace we didn’t give our guys an opportunity to go for it.” His understanding is that Energy’s automobile handed by way of inspection however Newgarden’s failed based mostly on a seam on the rear of his automobile. The group believed that Energy was probably vulnerable to failing a re-inspection because the parts had been the identical on each automobiles, in order that they pulled Energy out of line as nicely.

4:48: Alex Palou does sufficient, with a mark of 231.800. The championship chief is thru to the Firestone Quick Six.

4:45: Workforce Penske president Tim Cindric will handle the media in 5 minutes relating to Newgarden and Energy.

4:43: Pato O’Ward jumps to P2 with a mark of 232.186, making him the quickest Chevrolet on the grid. That books a spot within the Firestone Quick Six, but additionally eliminates teammate Christian Lundgaard.

4:38: Veteran Scott Dixon books a spot within the Firestone Quick Six with a mark of 231.971. That’s good for second, behind solely Rosenqvist. Rosenqvist, Dixon, Shwartzman, and Sato are by way of to the Firestone Quick Six, with solely Pato O’Ward and Alex Palou left to make an try. In the intervening time Malukas and Lundgaard are on the bubble.

4:32: Rookie Robert Shwartzman, who’s racing on an oval for the primary time, and has booked a spot within the Quick Six, as his common of 232.008 jumps him into P2 with simply free drivers left. An enormous improvement for Shwartzman and Prema Racing

4:29: David Malukas pumps in a four-lap run with a mean of 231.599, which slots him in third behind Rosenqvist and Sato.

Commentators on FOX Sports activities are reporting that each Newgarden and Energy are formally out of the Quick 12. Which means we can have an All-Penske fourth row of McLaughlin, Newgarden, and Energy.

4:24: Felix Rosenqvist rockets to the highest with a mean of 232.523, and his fourth lap was truly his quickest. An incredible run from Rosenqvist.

4:20: Newgarden has pulled out of line as nicely, and phrase from FOX Sports activities that each Newgarden’s automobile and Energy’s automobile have failed pre-qualifying technical inspections.

4:19: Takuma Sato jumps to the highest of the velocity charts with a 231.686 effort.

4:15: Marcus Ericsson finishes with a mark of 231.014, which slots him in behind Lundgaard. However the large information is that each Will Energy has simply pulled out of line, which could imply he might not try a qualifying run. Keep tuned.

4:11: Lundgaard units a benchmark of 231.360 mph, which is the time the remainder of the 12 might be chasing.

4:09: Christian Lundgaard from Arrow McLaren is up first.

4:08 There are solely 11 drivers within the Quick 12. Scott McLaughlin’s crash in apply earlier at present has knocked him out of the session.