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Team Penske Bulldozes IndyCar Qualifying Field In St. Petersburg; Power Takes Pole

Team Penske’s newest driver, Simon Pagenaud, watches his IndyCar Series foes qualify.  [Joe Jennings Photo]

 

St. Petersburg, Fla. – Team Penske displayed its awesome power in qualifications for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg by taking the top-four starting positions for Sunday’s season-opening race for the Verizon IndyCar Series.   Will Power claimed the pole with a record-breaking lap speed.

Driving the Verizon Chevrolet, Power led all three rounds of qualifications, setting records in the first two phases, coming away with a new standard of 106.841 miles per hour. For Power, he gobbled up his fifth pole at St. Petersburg and the 37th of his open-wheel career.

In the first race in 2003, Sebastien Bourdais set the mark that stood until today. The Frenchman’s speed around the 1.8-mile street course 12 years ago was 106.710 mph.

Said Power about his pole run, “I was really satisfied to get the pole today. All the practice sessions are working toward that, literally one lap that gets you the pole. It’s a session where everyone gives it everything they’ve absolutely got. When you get the pole, it’s very satisfying. It’s really difficult to get them. You don’t see anyone getting more than three or four poles during a season now. It’s the same for wins. Anytime you’re at that end of an IndyCar field, it’s awesome.”

New teammate Simon Pagenaud will start alongside Power. His speed in the Penske Truck Rental Chevrolet was 106.710 mph or 3/100ths of a second too slow.

Helio Castroneves, a three-time race winner, qualified third with Juan Pablo Montoya fourth.

Driving the Honda-powered ABC Supply Co./A. J. Foyt Racing car, 2014 pole winner Takuma Sato claimed the fifth starting spot with Bourdais in sixth.

Rounding out the top-10 qualifiers were Indianapolis 500 winners Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Scott Dixon with Josef Newgarden trailing them.

Simona de Silvestro, making a one-off start for Andretti Autosport qualified 11th.

In total, 24 cars qualified with rookie Francesco Dracone bringing up the rear with a speed of 100.832 mph.

 

 

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