Scott Dixon at Indianapolis
Photo: Icon Sportswire
Frenchman Romain Grosjean made a strong impression in his series debut, qualifying seventh.
O Ward was joined on the front row at Barber Motorsports Park by Andretti Autosports Alexander Rossi while Spaniard Alex Palou qualified third-fastest for Chip Ganassi Racing ahead of Penske Racing s Will Power.
Dixon, the six-time defending series champion who is bidding to equal AJ Foyt s record of seven titles, will start fifth for Sunday s race ahead of Ganassi teammate Sweden s Marcus Ericsson. I want to win races, said O Ward. We want to give these vets like (Josef) Newgarden and Dixon that already have multiple championships under their belt something to think of, a little bit of more stress than what they might have the past few years.
Jenna Fryer
Pato O Ward, of Mexico, sits in his car during testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) April 17, 2021 - 5:46 PM
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Pato O Ward ran three blistering laps around Barber Motorsports Park to win the pole for IndyCar s season-opening race and make good on his promise to become a headache that series veterans must deal with all year long.
O Ward, in his second full season of IndyCar and the centerpiece of Arrow McLaren SP s bid to become an IndyCar heavyweight, set a new track record in Saturday qualifying. It came in the second round and then he closed out the session with a pole-winning run of 1 minute, 5.8479 seconds to win the second pole of his career.
FILE - NASCAR driver Jimmy Johnson, left, and Indycar driver Scott Dixon, right, talk during practice for the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, in this May 16, 2019, file photo. Three-time Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti sits, second from left. The IndyCar season begins with three new drivers, including seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Pato O Ward ran three blistering laps around Barber Motorsports Park to win the pole for IndyCar s season-opening race and make good on his promise to become a headache that series veterans must deal with all year long.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Pato O’Ward ran three blistering laps around Barber Motorsports Park to win the pole for IndyCar’s season-opening race and make good on his promise to become
Pato O Ward sets track record at Barber to claim pole; Jimmie Johnson to start 21st
Pato O Ward ran three blistering laps around Barber Motorsports Park to win the pole for IndyCar s season-opening race and make good on his promise to become a headache that series veterans must deal with all year long.
O Ward, in his second full season of IndyCar and the centerpiece of Arrow McLaren SP s bid to become a series heavyweight, set a new track record in Saturday qualifying. It came in the second round, and he closed out the session with a lap of 1 minute, 5.8479 seconds to win the second pole of his career.