McLaughlin Snatches Last-Minute Pole in Thrilling St. Petersburg GP Qualifying
Scott McLaughlin captured a stunning pole position for the 2025 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with a blistering lap time of 59.4624s in his No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet. The achievement was particularly impressive following his Friday crash that required extensive overnight repairs by his crew.
Colton Herta secured second place with a 59.6369s lap in his Honda, while Meyer Shank Racing showed impressive form with Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Armstrong qualifying third and fourth respectively, showcasing the team's strong new technical alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing.
IndyCar racing on St. Petersburg track
Notable performances included:
- Christian Lundgaard: 5th (Arrow McLaren)
- Scott Dixon: 6th (Chip Ganassi Racing)
- Alex Palou: 8th (defending champion)
- Josef Newgarden: 10th (last year's polesitter)
Several top drivers struggled in qualifying:
- Will Power: 13th (all-time pole position record holder)
- Pato O'Ward: 23rd (out of 27 drivers)
Rookie standouts included:
- Louis Foster: 16th (top rookie, RLL Racing)
- Robert Shwartzman: 18th (impressive run with limited practice)
Race standings leaderboard
"We have so much trust in each other. I had to repay them," McLaughlin said, crediting his crew for their dedication in repairing his car after Friday's incident. The pole position sets up an exciting season opener for the 2025 IndyCar Series.
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