Alex Palou became the first Spanish driver to claim pole position for the prestigious Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 23rd. The 24-year-old Chip Ganassi Racing driver set a new qualifying record of an average speed of 234.217 mph, beating second-placed Rinus VeeKay of Ed Carpenter Racing by just 0.006 mph. Palou’s achievement made him the first driver to secure his place on the grid for the 105th running of the race, which takes place on May 30th at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Palou’s impressive performance overshadowed that of seasoned racers, including Arrow McLaren SP’s Pato O’Ward and Scott Dixon, who were expected to qualify within the top positions. Santino Ferrucci of A.J. Foyt Enterprises will start from fourth place, while O’Ward and Dixon shared the third row and the fifth and sixth positions.
Meanwhile, Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL) suffered a shock elimination during Last Chance Qualifying on Sunday. Rahal was pushed out of the event by teammate Jack Harvey, who completed the field of 33. The race will feature RLL’s three other drivers, Christian Lundgaard, and Katherine Legge, who was the sole driver to make the last chance qualifying cut.
Palou’s pole position ascendancy reflected his rapid progress since joining Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021. The driver has had an excellent season so far, winning the season opener at Barber Motorsports Park, before securing his pole position for the Indianapolis 500. Chip Ganassi Racing, which has won the Indy 500 on six previous occasions, will be hoping to add another trophy to their haul, with Palou reaping the benefits of their decision to sign him.
Elsewhere, Tony Kanaan will start his final Indy 500 from the outside of the third row in ninth place. The Brazilian driver has already won the Indianapolis 500 once in 2013 and will retire from the IndyCar series at the end of 2021. Kanaan’s announcement has triggered a season-long farewell tour that has included a livery change to his #48 car and commemorative merchandise for his fans.
The 2023 Indianapolis 500 will be covered by NBC, who recently acquired the broadcast rights for the event from ABC. The race is a highlight of the motorsport calendar and is watched by millions of fans worldwide. This year’s race is set to be no different.
Alex Palou’s pole position sets the scene for an intriguing and action-packed Indy 500 race. With Rahal’s elimination and Kanaan’s retirement, and the emergence of new talents like Palou, this year’s event promises to be an exciting showdown between IndyCar’s established stars and the up-and-coming drivers who are eager to make their mark on the series. Fans and spectators alike await the race with bated breath, as one of the world’s most exhilarating motorsport events prepares to take center stage.
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