McLaren is a big difference in the year’s arrows to Portland International Speedway.
Arrow McLaren teammates Christian Lundgaard and Pato O'Ward made two fastest loops for Askroi's Bitnile.com Grand Prix, respectively, at the Firestone Fast Sive Six -Asigring conference on Saturday. A year ago, the team's top two qualifiers were 18th for Alexander Rossi, while O'Ward was 23rd.
look: Qualified Results | Starting Lineup/Tyre Selection
O'Ward clutched his NTT Indycar series title hopes, which will start with pole position as Lundgaard will be forced to return to six positions on the grid as a fine for unapproved engine changes after practice Friday. Lundgaard was ranked seventh on Firestone junior tires and O'Ward was ranked seventh, with both drivers greatly improving on Firestone alternative tires.
“That’s an amazing qualification considering our position in practice,” Oward said. “We’re still kind of trying to make it better. So much change is where we got to last year. Christian, where we had the fastest lap.
“This car is still alive. I really don't have any explanation. We haven't changed anything from practice, but sometimes it's just the story of these Firefox tires.”
Lundgaard won his third NTT P1 award in his career and joined Arrow McLaren before the season, earning a 58.3939 second best in the 7th Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. His last pole position was in July 2023, competing in his Rahal Letterman Lanigan racing race in Toronto, a race he won.
“I didn’t really expect that when I crossed the line,” Lungard said. “I made a big push in the fifth round, a big push in the sixth round. I really don’t think that’s it.
“It was the best situation for us, obviously, it was a six-point grid free throw. I'm just proud of the team. Another front row lock on the team, except that only one of them would start from there. I'm glad we could at least help Patto on there.”
The best time for O'Ward in the Foster Fast Six is 58.5343 in the 5th Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Felix Rosenqvist will join him on Sunday's 110 lap match (FOX, FOX, FOX SPORTS APP, INDYCAR radio network) to get the best 58.5583 in the No. 60 Siriusxm Honda at Meyer Shank Racing W/ Curb-Agajanian.
The third place will be Will Power, the champion who dominated Portland, who stopped the 58.6424 clock in the No. 12 Verizon Penske Chevrolet. David Malukas will be fourth after finishing a lap of 58.6557 in AJ Foyt Enterprises' No. 4 Gallagher Insurance Chevrolet.
Champion leader Alex Palou won fifth place DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda with a small bonus. Palou was off track, entering the tire barrier around the 11th late in the hexagon of Fivestone, losing the best lap as it caused the local yellow, which affected another competitor and finished last in the final part of the qualifying round.
Palou, who has won eight of 14 games this season, needs to lead O'Ward by 108 points after Sunday's game to win the third straight and fourth title in the past five years. Palou leads O'Ward to enter this race in 12 turns, 1.964 miles of road course.
“I’m glad we have the pace,” Palo said. “Obviously, I'm not happy I'm looking for mushrooms in six quick six.”
Rossi missed Fivestone by just 0.0163 in the second round qualifying round, but he will be ranked sixth in the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet with the best start point of the season at Thermal Club in March.