MOTORSPORT: Kiwi takes pole for Indy 500

The month of May has been a triumph for Scott Dixon and the quick Kiwi cemented his dominance at The Brickyard as he took pole position for the 2021 running of the Indianapolis 500.

It was his fourth time as the quickest qualifier and sets him up as the driver to beat, helped by a Honda engine that has outpaced Chevrolet at every turn, for The Big One.

Dixon was usually the pace-setter through practice, topped the times during the qualifying that set the line-up for the Fast Nine shoot-out, and then did it again when he lapped at 231.685mph (372.860km/h) over four flat-out laps.

“It was pretty hairy,” Dixon reported after running last of the nine pole contenders.

“Glad it’s over. It was definitely pretty tense.

“At Turn 1 for the first lap was very loose and I was already maxed out on all the controls. I knew it was just going to be holding on for lap three and four. Lap four was definitely pretty rough, especially through Turn 3.”

He headed his Ganassi Racing teammate Colton Herta, who qualified second, with Rinus VeeKay completing the front row.

“I was able to watch Colton’s four laps, too. Wish I hadn’t before I went out. I knew his consistency was probably going to be a tick better than the other two, and it sure was,” said Dixon.

While he was celebrating, there was disappointment and head scratching for the other Down Under drivers in the field.

A disastrous time for Team Penske means former Indy winner Will Power will only line up 32nd, after surviving the final drama and ignominy of Bump Day, while Scott McLaughlin sprang a surprise and will start 17th in his rookie run – ahead of Power, Josef Newgarden in 21st and Simon Pagenaud in 26th.

McLaughlin made the field with a speed of 230.557mph (371.045km/h).

“A good first run put us in the game. We start 17th for the Indy 500,” he said. “Looking forward to race day next week.”

So is Dixon, who admits he had a special incentive for the pole.

“I think it was probably my wife giving me the hardest time for not getting a pole for a while. The last one was here three years ago or was it longer?” he said.

But he is now focused on the race itself.

“As we all know, it doesn’t really matter where you start, it’s where you finish. That’s going to be the focus now,” he said.

“We’re starting in a great position. I know the team is going to be proud of what we achieved today. Again, it’s just the starting position. We have to work on the rest.”