Road America Qualifying Report: Rookie Louis Foster Secures Pole Position
Elkhart Lake, WI – In a thrilling display of speed and strategy, Louis Foster captured pole position for the Indy NXT weekend at Road America, marking a significant milestone for both him and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The rookie driver, who clinched the NXT title last year, edged out championship leader Alex Palou with a lap time of 1:44.514 in the No. 45 Honda, while Palou settled for second with a 1:44.629 lap in the No. 10 Ganassi Honda.
Kyle Kirkwood, driving the No. 27 Honda for Andretti Global, completed the podium in third with a time of 1:44.852, contributing to a strong showing for Honda amid challenging track conditions characterized by ambient temperatures exceeding 90°F.
Key Performances
Scott McLaughlin emerged as the top Chevrolet driver in fourth place, clocking a 1:45.013 in the No. 3 for Team Penske. Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard placed fifth with a time of 1:45.082, while Graham Rahal rounded out the top six in the No. 15 Honda with a 1:45.487.
Foster’s surprise pole position came after a cautious strategy, opting not to use the faster alternate tires during the Fast 12 session. “I said to the guys as we got into Fast 12 to not put reds on because I wasn’t confident we would make it through to the Fast Six,” Foster remarked. “Boy was I wrong. Absolutely awesome.”
Notable Outcomes
Amid the top contenders, Will Power and Josef Newgarden of Team Penske finished eighth and tenth respectively, while Pato O’Ward qualified 11th. Colton Herta, a pre-race favorite, struggled to find pace, qualifying in 15th and expressing disappointment: “Pretty poor. Can’t really be happy with that one… we need to find some stuff here for tomorrow.”
Knockout Qualifying Highlights
The qualifying process featured multiple rounds, with Palou posting the fastest lap of the first round at 1:44.477, leading a group that included Graham Rahal and Scott Dixon. Notable eliminations in the first round included Newgarden, who benefitted from a disqualification in the second round that elevated him to sixth.
The second round showcased emerging talent Christian Rasmussen, who topped the session with a lap of 1:44.740. Ultimately, the Fast Six featured Palou, Lundgaard, Foster, McLaughlin, Kirkwood, and Rahal, with the top drivers reflecting a blend of rookie promise and established prowess.
As the weekend progresses, Foster’s performance sets the stage for an exciting race, emphasizing the potential for a new champion to make their mark at Road America.
