2022 Indianapolis 500 qualifying, starting grid: Scott Dixon takes fifth career pole with record

Scott Dixon saved his best for last and put the youth movement on hold Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, clocking a four-lap average of 234.046 mph to take pole for the 106th Indianapolis 500 on May 29. It’s the fifth Indy 500 pole for Dixon, 41, who also started from the top spot on the grid in 2021, 2017, 2015 and 2008 – when he won the race.

Sharing the front row with the New Zealander, his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, defending series champion Alex Palou, 25, and Rinus VeeKay, 21, of Ed Carpenter Racing.

Coming out first in the Fast 12 segment, Dixon proved to be the fastest as the field was whittled down to the fastest top six who would go for pole, and he was able to make the subtle adjustments needed to stay ahead of the conditions. changing the track to stay fastest in the final group, where he was the last driver to try his luck.

Consistency is key at the Brickyard, where the four-lap average is taken, and the veteran displayed the calm, quick hands and cool demeanor he is known for en route to setting the fastest four-lap average in the Indy 500 qualifying history, beating Scott Brayton’s mark of 233.718 from 1996.

“From moto one to moto two I knew it was going to get easier because of the weather,” Dixon said, “and the weather held. It’s a privilege to be in pole position, but I don’t feel as good as I did when I won in 2008. All 32 riders want that feeling, some of us have felt it before, and it makes you want to feel it again.

“It’s about winning the 500m, man. Winning the pole gives you confidence, but it’s not a guarantee of anything. You keep knocking on that door, and I hope it goes away. will open for me this year.”

Prior to Dixon’s race, Palou looked pretty comfortable up front after his 233.499 mph when VeeKay’s 233.385 failed to lift him out of first place.

It was a successful day for Chip Ganassi Racing, who not only took the top two grid spots with Dixon and Palou, but whose five cars started in the top 12 with Marcus Ericsson fifth fastest overall, Tony Kanaan sixth and Jimmie Johnson 12th.

“I wish they were just there to support me,” Dixon said when asked if he felt more comfortable with so many teammates around him. “I’m pretty sure Alex will try to pass me at the start.”

It was also a return to form for Honda, which powered seven of the fastest 12 cars and four of the top six.

Starting grid for the 106th Indianapolis 500

1. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, four-lap average of 234.046 mph
2. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 233.499
3. Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 233.385
4. Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 233.08
5. Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 232.764
6. Tony Kanaan, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 232.372
7. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 232.705
8. Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 232.182
9. Romain Grosjean, Andretti Autosport, Honda, 231.999
10. Takuma Sato, Dale Coyne Racing with RWR, Honda, 231.67
11. Will Power, Team Penske, Chevrolet, 231.534
12. Jimmie Johnson, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 231.264
13. David Malukas, Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Motorsports, Honda, 231.607
14. Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, Chevrolet, 231.58
15. Santino Ferrucci, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Chevrolet, 231.508
16. Simon Pagenaud, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda, 231.275
17. JR Hildebrand, AJ Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet, 231.112
18. Conor Daly, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 230.999
19. Callum Ilott, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet, 230.961
20. Alexandre Rossi, Andretti Autosport, Honda, 230.812
21. Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda, 230.766
22. Sage Karam, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Chevrolet, 230.464
23. Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta Autosport with Marco and Curb-Agajanian, 230.345
24. Devlin DeFrancesco, Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport, Honda, 230.326
25. Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport with Curb-Agajanian, Honda, 230.235
26. Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, Chevy, 230.154
27. Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, Honda, 229.63
28. Kyle Kirkwood, AJ Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet, 229.406
29. Dalton Kellett, AJ Foyt Enterprises, Chevrolet, 228.916
30. Juan Pablo Montoya – #6, Arrow McLaren SP, Chevrolet, 228.622
31. Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda, 227.053
32. Jack Harvey, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Honda, 226.851
33. Stefan Wilson, DragonSpeed/Cusick Motorsports, Chevrolet, no attempt