Simon Pagenaud on pole in Toronto

Since the start of the Canadian runs in Toronto, simon pagenaud (Team Penske – Chevrolet) seems on cloud nine. The winner of the Indianapolis 500, after dominating the first day yesterday, then EL3 this Saturday, took pole position this evening at the end of qualifying.

The first laps of the session saw the respective best times of Felix Rosenqvist (Chip Ganassi Racing – Honda), best of group 1 in 58″730 ahead of Sébastien Bourdais (Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser Sullivan – Honda) while Ed Jones (Ed Carpenter / Team Corsa – Chevrolet) was the fastest in group 2 ahead of Simon Pagenaud (Team Penske -Chevrolet).

Group phases which notably saw the elimination of Will Power (Team Penske), only eighth in group 1.

The second round of qualifying allowed Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) to return to the front ahead of Rosenqvist and Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing), Simon Pagenaud finishing fifth ahead of Alexander Red (Andretti Autosport – Honda) and thus qualifying for Fast 6 unlike Sébastien Bourdais, who will start from eighth place on the grid.

The final session finally saw Pagenaud set the benchmark in 58″429, 165 thousandths ahead of Scott Dixon, who had spun in Fast 6 and who took his teammate Felix Rosenqvist in his wake, third by two tenths. Alexander Rossi, Josef Newgarden and Ed Jones complete the top 6 of the session.