Palou Secures Pole Position at Laguna Seca, Extends Championship Lead
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – Alex Palou solidified his grip on the championship title by securing pole position for the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey, clocking a blistering lap of 1m08.341s—0.287 seconds ahead of his closest rival, Pato O’Ward from Arrow McLaren. This marks Palou’s second consecutive pole at Laguna Seca and increases his points lead to 100 with four races remaining in the season.
Starting alongside Palou will be O’Ward, whose lap time of 1m08.628s will put him in a strong position as he aims for his first championship title. Notably, Colton Herta of Andretti Global will line up third with a time of 1m08.882s, seeking his first victory of the year.
Key Qualifying Results:
- Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) – 1m08.341s
- Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren) – 1m08.628s
- Colton Herta (Andretti Global) – 1m08.882s
- Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) – 1m09.670s
- Will Power (Team Penske) – 1m10.006s
- David Malukas (AJ Foyt Racing) – 1m10.181s
Palou expressed satisfaction with the vehicle’s performance: "The car was really good… We made some changes and trusted they would be in the right direction. Super happy that we got to fight for pole," he stated.
O’Ward remained optimistic: "It’s my best start here, so I’ll take that."
Penske’s Newgarden showed resilience, bouncing back to fourth place after a challenging summer, while teammate Will Power and AJ Foyt Racing’s Malukas followed closely behind.
Knockout Qualifying Overview:
In the opening round, Palou led with a lap of 1m08.665s, advancing to the Firestone Fast 12 along with Felix Rosenqvist, Christian Lundgaard, and others. Notably, Rosenqvist faced a penalty due to an off at Turn 5, resulting in a demotion to 12th place and promoting Power to sixth.
The Fast 6 was decisively led by Palou, who dominated the final session to secure pole effortlessly.
Next Up:
The 95-lap race is set to begin tomorrow, setting the stage for a crucial battle in the championship race. Palou’s performance leaves little doubt as the series heads into the final stretch of the season.
