Overview
- Pato O’Ward leads the grid ahead of David Malukas, with Christian Lundgaard third, Alex Palou fourth and Scott Dixon fifth after a two-lap average of 202.621 mph set the benchmark.
- Arrow McLaren placed two cars in the top three as Lundgaard joined O’Ward near the front, underscoring the team’s strong oval form.
- O’Ward also topped the lone practice session earlier on the harder tire, adding intrigue to race tire strategy after most rivals prepared on the softer compound.
- Surface irregularities between Turns 3 and 4 unsettled cars in practice and qualifying, including a DeFrancesco brush with the wall that required a toe-link fix, though the qualifying session ran without major incidents.
- Callum Ilott and Christian Rasmussen received nine-place grid penalties for unapproved engine changes, moving them back for the start of Sunday’s race.