Feb 26

Feb 26 Hunter McElrea makes statement with Indy Lights pole in St. Petersburg

Hunter McElrea will start the Indy Lights opener on pole after topping a tense qualifying session in St. Petersburg.

Hunter McElrea will start on pole position for the Indy Lights opener in St. Petersburg. *(Penske Entertainment)*

The Australian-born Kiwi set the fastest time of 1:05.281 after the chequered flag as the lead changed hands six times in the final five minutes of the session.

"I knew I had to do it on that last lap, and the tires were honestly a little bit past their peak," said McElrea.

"I just did a lap. I didn’t expect to be on pole by three-tenths."

"I thought it was good enough for pole, probably, but when they said, ‘Pole by three tenths,’ I was shocked."

McElrea on track in St. Petersburg. *(Penske Entertainment)*

Linus Lunqvist had taken the top spot in the opening practice session with McElrea in third, but the California-based McElrea made his mark on the Florida streets with the fastest time in second practice before taking out pole in qualifying.

"It just sums up how good the car is," he said.

"It’s probably one of the best cars, if not the best car, I’ve ever driven."

"We’ve been fast, and then we’ve had issues that made us third or fourth instead of fastest."

"It was nice just to have a representative session with everyone on the same tires."

Aussie Matt Brabham qualified sixth. *(Penske Entertainment)*

McElrea will start Sunday's (Monday AEDT) Indy Lights Grand Prix of St. Petersburg next to Lunqvist who set the second-fastest time.

Aussie Matt Brabham qualified in sixth, while rising star Ernie Francis Jr fell to the rear of the grid after being penalised his best two attempts for allegedly interfering with another driver’s lap, as well as his third-best lap for causing a stoppage.

Indy Lights St Petersburg Qualifications