Dixon makes Indy 500 qualification history

Qualification for the 2022 Indy 500 took place over the weekend

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In an enthralling qualification battle for the Indy 500, Scott Dixon earned his fifth career pole position for the standout Indycar race with a record-breaking average speed. 

During the Fast 6 shootout in which the best six drivers from the Top 12 had one final run at pole position, Dixon posted an average four-lap speed of 234.046 mph, which is the fastest in the race’s 106 year history. 

The previous benchmark was 233.718 mph held by Scott Brayton which was set in 1996. 

“From the first run to the second, I knew it was going to get easier because of the weather conditions,” Dixon said, “and the weather held up. 

“It’s a privilege to be on the pole, but it don’t feel as good as I felt when I won in 2008. All 32 drivers want that feeling. 

“Some of us have felt it before, and it just makes you want to feel that again.

“It’s all about winning the 500, man. Winning the pole does give you confidence, but it’s no guarantee of anything. 

“You just keep knocking on that door, and I hope it opens up for me this year.”

Dixon ahead of Palou 

The 2021 Indy 500 runner-up Alex Palou lines up second behind Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dixon, with Chevrolet drivers Rinus VeeKay and Ed Carpenter next up. Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson will start 12th after a near miss with the wall during his qualifying run. 

2022 Indy 500 Starting Grid

Pos.DriverTeamAvg speed
1Scott DixonChip Ganassi Racing234.046 mph
2Alex PalouChip Ganassi Racing233.499
3Rinus VeeKayEd Carpenter Racing233.385
4Ed CarpenterEd Carpenter Racing233.080
5Marcus EricssonChip Ganassi Racing232.764
6Tony KanaanChip Ganassi Racing232.372
7Pato O’WardArrow McLaren232.705
8Felix RosenqvistArrow McLaren232.182
9Romain GrosjeanAndretti Autosport231.999
10Takuma SatoDale Coyne Racing231.670
11Will PowerTeam Penske231.534
12Jimmie JohnsonChip Ganassi Racing231.264
13David MalukasDale Coyne Racing231.607
14Josef NewgardenTeam Penske231.580
15Santino FerrucciDreyer & Reinbold231.508
16Simon PagenaudMeyer Shank Racing231.275
17J.R. HildebrandA.J. Foyt Enterprises231.112
18Conor DalyEd Carpenter Racing230.999
19Callum IlottJuncos Hollinger Racing230.961
20Alexander RossiAndretti Autosport230.812
21Graham RahalRahal Letterman Lanigan230.766
22Sage KaramDreyer & Reinbold230.464
23Marco AndrettiAndretti Herta Autosport230.345
24Devlin DeFrancescoAndretti Steinbrenner230.326
25Colton HertaAndretti Autosport230.235
26Scott McLaughlinTeam Penske230.154
27Helio CastronevesMeyer Shank Racing229.630
28Kyle KirkwoodA.J. Foyt Enterprises229.406
29Dalton KellettA.J. Foyt Enterprises228.916
30Juan Pablo MontoyaArrow McLaren228.622
31Christian LundgaardRahal Letterman Lanigan227.053
32Jack HarveyRahal Letterman Lanigan226.851
33Stefan WilsonDragonSpeed/CusickN/A

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