Arrow McLaren Dominates Qualifying at Portland International Raceway

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O’Ward Secures Pole Position Amidst Team Progress

Arrow McLaren has showcased a remarkable turnaround at the Portland International Raceway, with teammates Christian Lundgaard and Pato O’Ward clocking the two fastest laps during the Firestone Fast Six qualifying session for the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI. This stark contrast to last year’s performance, where the team struggled with Alexander Rossi qualifying 18th and O’Ward in 23rd, highlights their significant progress.

Lundgaard’s Impressive Performance and Penalty Impact

Despite Lundgaard’s impressive lap time of 58.3939 seconds in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, he will start from the seventh position due to a six-place grid penalty for an unapproved engine change after Friday’s practice. This penalty, however, does not overshadow the team’s achievement of securing a front-row lockout, albeit with O’Ward starting from pole.

O’Ward, who is clinging to his NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship hopes, recorded a best time of 58.5343 seconds. He expressed his surprise at the qualifying results, stating, “The car just came alive. I don’t really have an explanation for it. We didn’t really change anything from practice, but sometimes that’s just the story with these Firestone tires.”

Lundgaard Reflects on His Performance

Lundgaard, who earned his third NTT P1 Award and first with Arrow McLaren, shared his thoughts on the qualifying session: “As I crossed the line, I didn’t really expect it. I had a big push in Turn 5 and a big push in Turn 6. This is the best-case scenario for us, obviously, with a six-place grid penalty. I’m just proud of the team.”

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Race Day Expectations and Championship Implications

Felix Rosenqvist will join O’Ward on the front row after posting a time of 58.5583 seconds in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda. Reigning Portland winner Will Power will start third, followed by David Malukas in fourth. Championship leader Alex Palou, who experienced a setback by going off track, will start fifth. He needs to maintain a 108-point lead over O’Ward to clinch his third consecutive series championship.

Palou humorously remarked, “Happy that we had pace. Obviously not happy that I went looking for mushrooms there in the Fast Six.”

Rossi narrowly missed the Fast Six by just 0.0163 seconds but will start sixth due to Lundgaard’s penalty, matching his best starting position of the season.

Conclusion

The upcoming 110-lap race promises to be an exciting showdown, with O’Ward and Lundgaard leading the charge for Arrow McLaren. As the team continues to build on their momentum, fans can expect a thrilling contest at Portland International Raceway. The stakes are high, not just for the race but also for the championship, making this event a must-watch for INDYCAR enthusiasts.

This article encapsulates the essence of the qualifying session while maintaining a professional tone and structure. The focus on key players and their performances provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of the event’s significance.