NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 5
GMR Grand Prix (USA)
Felix Rosenqvist pocketed a top five finish in Saturday’s GMR Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, setting up a strong start to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ Month of May activities.
Rosenqvist was on fine form throughout round five of the INDYCAR campaign, and came agonizingly close to sealing a third pole position at the IMS road course – losing out by just 27 ten-thousandths of a second (0.0027s) in qualifying.
It marked the smallest margin on record between the top two drivers in INDYCAR’s Fast Six qualifying segment.
From second on the grid, Rosenqvist then featured in the lead group for most of the 85-lap race on Saturday afternoon, and ultimately sealed fifth place with a late move on defending GMR Grand Prix winner Colton Herta in the closing stages.
It was a strong day overall for Arrow McLaren, with all three of the team’s cars finishing inside the top five.
”Top five finishes for the whole team today – that’s a massive statement to start off the Month of May,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “Personally I wasn’t super pleased with how the race went, but it’s P5 and solid, good points. It’s not terrible, but obviously having started second I feel like this track remains a bit of a mystery for me in the race. We’ll keep pushing and, in general, big smiles going into the Indy 500.”
With the opening five races of the season now completed, attention firmly shifts to the undisputed highlight on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar: the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Practice for the legendary oval event begins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, leading up to qualifying next weekend (May 20-21) and the race itself on May 28.
RESULTS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 5
GMR Grand Prix
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (USA)
1: Alex Palou (ESP), Ganassi, 85 laps
2: Pato O’Ward (MEX), Arrow McLaren, +16.800s
3: Alexander Rossi (USA), Arrow McLaren, +18.144s
4: Christian Lundgaard (DEN), RLL, +23.480s
5: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Arrow McLaren, +23.925s
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | After 5/17 races
1: Alex Palou (ESP), Ganassi, 174 p.
2: Pato O’Ward (MEX), Arrow McLaren, 168 p.
3: Marcus Ericsson (SWE), Ganassi, 155 p.
4: Romain Grosjean (FRA), Andretti, 134 p.
5: Scott McLaughlin (NZL), Penske, 133 p.
—
13: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Arrow McLaren, 97 p.