Álex Palou on pole for two thousandths at Mid-Ohio!

The two men had each conducted a free practice session and it is therefore a certain logic that is respected to see them fight for pole position until the end! Palou was the first to draw, and O'Ward couldn't beat him on his last attempt. The Arrow McLaren of the Mexican developed understeer in the sequences of Thunder Valley, while he had a lead over his Spanish opponent... O'Ward, however, remains the only resident of the papaya-colored team to have qualified in Q2, and his position on the front row puts him in a good window for Sunday's event.

Behind them, it was David Malukas (Meyer Shank) who caused a sensation by taking third time! The American is competing in only his second race of the season this weekend, after his left wrist injury which initially kept him away from the circuits, then led to his dismissal by Arrow McLaren. Malukas, who replaces Tom Blomqvist, who was also fired this year, still has to struggle with his wrist over a race distance, but he had already made a convincing comeback two weeks ago at Laguna Seca. Colton Herta (Andretti), Marcus Armstrong (Ganassi) and Marcus Ericsson (Andretti) completed the top 6, qualified in Q3. Armstrong will, however, have to move back six places on the starting grid, due to an engine change before this event. Same sanction for Felix Rosenqvist (Meyer Shank) and Pietro Fittipaldi (Rahal Letterman Lanigan).

Surprise eliminations in Q1

Twelfth on the grid, Romain Grosjean (Juncos Hollinger) can be satisfied with having passed the pitfall of Q1. Indeed, he finished in sixth place in his group, ahead of a trio made up of Scott Dixon (Ganassi), Will Power (Penske) and Josef Newgarden (Penske)! Ten championship titles and four victories at the Indianapolis 500 between them, sorry. These surprising results are partly due to the new asphalt on this Mid-Ohio circuit, which provides more understeer-oriented behavior than in the past. Conversely, Christian Rasmussen (Carpenter) gave himself one of his best starting positions on the grid, with the ninth time in Q2.

Lack of success finally for the British rookie Toby Sowery (Coyne). The one who makes his debut in IndyCar in the No. 51 was relatively on point during free practice, but a small problem with the hybrid system of his car leaves him at the back of the grid, last in his group in Q1. After thirty minutes of warm-up this Sunday at around 16:25 p.m. French time, the Mid-Ohio Grand Prix will be held at 19:45 p.m.!

Mid-Ohio Grand Prix – Q1 – Group 1

(Ranking taken before Rasmussen's improvement)

Mid-Ohio Grand Prix – Q1 – Group 2

Mid-Ohio Grand Prix – Q2

Mid-Ohio Grand Prix – Q3

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