Ryan Hunter-Reay on pole at Sonoma

Second in the championship, Alexander Red (Andretti Autosport) will start this evening from sixth position, four rows behind Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing), his main rival. But the American knows that he will be able to count on the help of his teammates, and in particular Ryan Hunter-Reay, who stole pole from the New Zealander during the final seconds of the Firestone Fast Six.

Credited with a 1'17"6277, the 2012 champion signs his first pole position since the 2014 edition of the Long Beach Grand Prix and prevents Dixon from scoring an additional point. Behind the latter, will be Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) who, like his teammate Will Power – seventh – still has a mathematical chance of being titled. The second row will be completed by Marco Andretti (Andretti Autosport).

On the third row, just in front of Alexander Rossi, we will find the astonishing Pat O’Ward (Harding Racing). For his first appearance in the discipline, the 19-year-old Mexican, 2018 Indy Lights champion, was brilliant, as he set the fifth fastest time and allowed his employer to move into Fast Six for the first time.

French side, simon pagenaud (Team Penske) and Sébastien Bourdais (Dale Coyne Racing) will start from 7th and 11th positions respectively.

As a reminder, this final is credited with a coefficient of two and will therefore bring 100 points to its winner, not counting the bonuses awarded based on the rounds led. To be titled, Newgarden and Power have no choice but to win. Scott Dixon, who is aiming for a fifth crown, leaves with the favors of the forecasts since he totals 29 points more than his rival Alexander Rossi... which is not to say much.

2018 Sonoma Qualifiers Ranking: