NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying - Detroit
June 3, 2023
Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix
Downtown Detroit Street Circuit
Date: June 3, 2023
Josef Newgarden
No. 2 Hitachi Dallara/Chevrolet
Second Practice - 21st
Qualifying - 5th
Scott McLaughlin
No. 3 Gallagher Dallara/Chevrolet
Second Practice - 5th
Qualifying - 2nd
Will Power
No. 12 Verizon 5G Dallara/Chevrolet
Second Practice - 2nd
Qualifying - 7th
RECAP
Qualifying on street circuits in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES can be some of the most-exciting - and important - time trial sessions of the year. Throw in a new, downtown Detroit circuit and Saturday's qualifying session for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix was likely one that teams have been focusing on for a while. An early morning practice session gave Team Penske a chance to continue dialing in their qualifying setups, with Will Power and Scott McLaughlin both logging top-five lap times.
The hard work of the team paid off handsomely with one of Team Penske's strongest qualifying efforts of the season. Will Power and the No. 12 Verizon 5G Chevrolet team easily transferred out of Group 1 in the first round. Josef Newgarden and the No. 2 Hitachi Chevrolet team, and Scott McLaughlin and the No. 3 Gallagher Chevrolet team both finished inside the top six in Group 2 of the first round, giving Team Penske three of the 12 drivers in Round 2. When the dust settled on second round, both Newgarden and McLaughlin made the Firestone Fast Six, with Power just outside in the seventh starting position. In the run for the pole position, McLaughlin gave a valiant effort but came up just short of the top spot and will roll off from the second position tomorrow. Newgarden, who put together a Herculean effort following his whirlwind tour after winning last Sunday's Indianapolis 500, will start fifth.
THEY SAID IT
"Just didn’t quite have the pace in the Gallagher Chevy to take the pole, but look, we’ll have plenty of pace tomorrow in the race. I think we’re already good on tires. I love this track to be honest. A lot of fun. First Detroit Grand Prix back downtown and a lot of energy here, so really excited for what’s ahead. Full credit to Alex (Palou) and his team – great job. We’ll see. It’s going to be hard on the outside into (Turn) 1 and into 3, but we’ll just put the elbows out and see what we get coming out of three.”
- Scott McLaughlin
WHAT'S NEXT
Race coverage of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix will begin tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 pm ET on NBC, Peacock, INDYCAR Radio and Sirius XM Channel 209.