Ericsson breaks through for first IndyCar pole at Arlington

Marcus Ericsson was the big winner in the IndyCar Series’ entertainment-minded shift to single-car and single-lap runs for the Firestone Fast Six at the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington.

The Swede demolished the pole contenders with a lap of 1m34.356s in the No. 28 Andretti Global Honda which was nearly a half-second better than Alex Palou’s 1m34.818s in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to capture his first series pole.

Pato O’Ward was the lone Chevy-powered driver to crack the Fast Six and secured third with the No. 5 Arrow McLaren entry (1m34.845s) ahead of Andretti’s Will Power in the No. 26 Honda (1m35.086s) and the Meyer Shank Racing duo of Felix Rosenqvist in the No. 60 Honda (1m35.160s) and Marcus Armstrong in the No. 66 Honda (1m35.601s).

“I waited long enough, I can tell you that,” Ericsson said. “I think 2013 was the last pole I had (in GP2). So I feel like this is a giant thing for me just because of that. And I've been second four times. So to finally get the pole, means a ton. And I want to shout out to my crew on 28 car. They've done a tremendous job. Feels amazing.”

Leaving the Fast Six, Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood was a surprise outsider in seventh and Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden starred to take 11th in a backup car he hadn’t driven before qualifying. AJ Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet was the top rookie in 16th and fellow rookie Mick Schumacher was right behind in 17th – ahead of Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard – for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Penske’s Scott McLaughlin – pole winner at St. Petersburg – will roll off last after crashing on his run.

The opening round of knockout qualifying saw Palou lead a somewhat light Group 1 with a first flying lap at 1m34.653s. His second flyer was slowed by Romain Grosjean as he was warming up his tires, and that pushed Palou to try and turn his third push lap into the one that counted. Once he was done, the No. 10 Honda was quickest at 1m33.739s on Firestone alternates. Behind him, Rosenqvist, Alexander Rossi, Josef Newgarden in a big effort, Christian Rasmussen and Ericsson transferred into the Firestone Fast 12.

Of those on the wrong side of the top six, Louis Foster (P13), Grosjean (P15), Schumacher (P17), Dennis Hauger (P19), Rinus VeeKay (21) and teammate Sting Ray Robb (P23) were done for the day.

In the second phase of the opening knockout round, Kyle Kirkwood nearly matched Palou’s best from the first phase with a 1m33.947s…on slower primary tires. The 12-minute session went red with 2m19s left as McLaughlin clipped the inside wall at Turn 8 and shot into the outside wall which smashed his left-front suspension and front wings. With the stoppage, the Team Penske driver – who was second fastest at the time – lost his two fastest laps as a result of causing the red and surrendered a guaranteed start inside the top 12.

The timing of the incident had an effect on some of those who were outside of the six transfer spots; some were on flying laps that ended when the red came out. With tires taking anywhere from 2-4 laps to get up to optimum performance temperature, some had to charge hard and make big laps.

Moving on, it was Kirkwood, David Malukas, a stellar Santino Ferrucci, Armstrong, Power and O’Ward. Behind them, Kyffin Simpson (P14), Collet (P16), Lundgaard (P18), Scott Dixon (P20), Nolan Siegel (P22), Graham Rahal (P24), and McLaughlin (P25) were finished with qualifying.

Kirkwood topped the Fast 12 up until two minutes to go with a 1m34.520s lap and then Ferrucci shot to P1 with a 1m34.489s tour. Next, it was O’Ward with a giant improvement of 1m33.898s and it was on as Palou took P1 with a 1m33.404s ahead of Rosenqvist at 1m33.613s and Power at 1m33.775s. Armstrong was fourth at 1m33.839s and Kirkwood was P5 at 1m33.886s.

And then it got fun as everyone finished their last laps and the Fast Six runners were settled with Palou up front, then O’Ward, Rosenqvist, Power, Armstrong and Ericsson, who knocked teammate Kirkwood out at the last second.

It left Kirkwood (P7), Rasmussen (P8), Malukas (P9), Rossi (P10), Newgarden (P11), and Ferrucci (P12) in states of disappointment or frustration as single-car qualifying beckoned.

Fast Six qualifying opened with Ericsson rocking around the circuit and he recorded a 1m34.356s lap. Armstrong was up next and delivered a 1m35.601 after being fast to start the lap but gave the time back – and more – when he had to lift and slow the car to keep from hitting the wall. Power went third and was just behind teammate Ericsson with a 1m35.086s lap. Rosenqvist went next and produced a 1m35.160s lap to sit third with O’Ward and Palou left to go.

O’Ward built speed throughout the lap and crossed the line with a 1m34.845s, which was good enough for third and guaranteed Ericsson would make another front-row start after qualifying second at St. Petersburg.

Palou went last and was good enough for second with a lap of 1m34.818s as Ericsson held onto earn his first IndyCar pole.

UP NEXT: Warmup, Sunday, 10:05am ET

RESULTS