Felix Rosenqvist executed another strong NTT INDYCAR SERIES weekend for himself and Meyer Shank Racing to finish a fine fourth in the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix on Sunday.
Coming home first among the drivers employing a two-stop strategy, Rosenqvist used a late caution period to pass reigning champion and fellow two-stopper Alex Palou for fourth on the penultimate lap of Sunday’s race at Barber Motorsports Park.
“I think we have to be really, really pleased with this weekend,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “We came here knowing that this might not be our best track, but we found more and more pace in the car and we’ll take a P4 here every day of the week.”
Rosenqvist had initially looked settled in for second, but dropped back in the final third of the race as cars on the faster three-stop strategy circled through, aided by timely cautions.
“We stuck to our strategy and even though it wasn’t the winning one today, we’re the best-placed two-stopper in this race,” Felix Rosenqvist continues. “Some of the three-stoppers came flying there in the end and we were on massive fuel save, so it was hard to keep everyone behind. It’s so easy to get persuaded into pushing more when everyone around you is on a different strategy, but we kept our heads again and we leave here with another top five result.
“I also want to say congratulations to Linus (Lundqvist, fellow Swede) on his first INDYCAR podium!”
Rosenqvist bounced back from a difficult situation in the early parts of the weekend, his Meyer Shank Racing car suffering an engine issue in second practice on Saturday morning.
The Swede was forced to sit out most of the session, and with an engine change required ahead of qualifying just two hours later, Rosenqvist suddenly found himself in a race against time to even make the grid-deciding shootout.
The Meyer Shank Racing mechanics performed a heroic change-out, however, allowing Rosenqvist to join the qualifying fun – and the Swede quickly repaid the favour by storming to fifth on the grid.
“I think that was a team effort that’s right up there,” Felix Rosenqvist concludes. “The guys did a fantastic job changing the engine in one and a half hour, and to actually make it through to the Fast 6 in those circumstances is a big testament to our group. Then in the race, I thought we were even better.
“I’m super proud of the team; we’re getting stronger every weekend and we’re up there with the big boys. It’s very exciting.”
Felix Rosenqvist now moves up to fifth in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings, just 14 points off the lead. Next up is the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on May 10-11.
RESULTS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 3
Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix
Barber Motorsports Park (USA)
1: Scott McLaughlin (NZL), Penske, 90 laps
2: Will Power (AUS), Penske, +1.319s
3: Linus Lundqvist (SWE), Ganassi, +2.442s
4: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Meyer Shank Racing, +4.510s
5: Alex Palou (ESP), Ganassi, +5.369s
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | After 3/17 races
1: Colton Herta (USA), Andretti, 101 p.
2: Will Power (AUS), Penske, 100 p.
3: Alex Palou (ESP), Ganassi, 98 p.
4: Scott Dixon (NZL), Ganassi, 94 p.
5: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Meyer Shank Racing, 87 p.