Alex Palou takes inaugural Indycar pole position on Streets of Detroit

Alex Palou tested track limits and displayed extreme pace to take the inaugural Indycar pole position on the Streets of Detroit.

It is the 2021 champion’s third career pole and second in a row after taking the NTT P1 Award for the Indianapolis 500 last month.

He set the best lap of 1:01.8592 with just over a minute left in the Firestone Fast Six session, with the benchmark unable to be topped by a handful of drivers remaining on track for their final attempts on the brand new circuit.

“We started on used [alternate tyres] that we used in the Fast 12, and it didn’t feel really good,” said Palou.

“I was concerned if we were going to be able to make two laps or not, but super happy. My first pole on street course. We had a great car since the beginning.”

“It’s going to be a tough day tomorrow, for sure. I got off a lot in practice. We were wanting to see where the limit was. We found it. But man, it’s a crazy track.”

Kiwi Scott McLaughlin will line up alongside Palou on the front row after qualifying second, his first front-row start in the 2023 Indycar season.

Romain Grosjean qualified third, with six-time champion Scott Dixon alongside him on the second row.

Will Power will start seventh, while Kiwi Marcus Armstrong was the top rookie in qualifying, starting 11th for the grand prix.

The Indycar Detroit Grand Prix is underway at 5.00am on Monday (AEST).

INDYCAR Detroit Grand Prix - Qualifying Results

1. Alex Palou
2. Scott McLaughlin (NZ)
3. Romain Grosjean
4. Scott Dixon (NZ)
5. Josef Newgarden
6. Marcus Ericsson
7. Will Power (AUS)
8. Simon Pagenaud
9. Felix Rosenqvist
10. Pato O’Ward
11. Marcus Armstrong (NZ)
12. Kyle Kirkwood
13. Alexander Rossi
14. Rinus VeeKay
15. Conor Daly
16. Callum Ilott
17. Devlin DeFrancesco
18. Christian Lundgaard
19. Benjamin Pedersen
20. Agustin Canapino
21. David Malukas
22. Santino Ferruci
23. Helio Casroneves
24. Colton Herta
25. Jack Harvey
26. Sting Ray Robb
27. Graham Rahal