McLaughlin and Newgarden claim Milwaukee pole positions · RaceFans

Penske duo Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden claimed a pole position apiece for each of this weekend’s races at the Milwaukee Mile.

McLaughlin’s average lap speed for his first of two laps was 261.263kph, a comfortable 1.1kph quicker than his team mate’s. However his pace dropped off more significantly between the two runs, and Newgarden edged him for the fastest second lap time by a mere 0.03kph.

The Penske duo would have locked out the front row of the grid for both races. However Newgarden’s nine-place penalty for exceeding the maximum number of engine changes means he will lose his second place on the grid for race one.

Today’s opening race will therefore see McLaughlin start from pole position alongside David Malukas. Alexander Rossi will be promoted to third on the grid, after wrestling his McLaren to the fourth-quickest time, ahead of Linus Lundqvist.

Will Power gave his championship chances a shot on the arm by out-qualifying points leader Alex Palou for both races. Power will start today’s race from fifth place.

Both Palou and team mate Scott Dixon struggled with the balance of their Ganassis around the bumpy oval. Team mate Marcus Armstrong was the team’s quickest driver, setting the seventh-fastest time for the first race, but he is also among the seven drivers in the 27-car field who have to take engine change penalties.

His penalty will benefit McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, Andretti’s Marcus Ericsson and Meyer Shank’s Felix Rosenqvist. Romain Grosjean and Colton Herta, third in the points standings, will move up into the top 10 on the grid. Palou will move up to 12th on the grid.

Newgarden credited an “aggressive set-up” after fighting his car to take pole position for the second race ahead of McLauglin and Armstrong. Power made it three Penskes in the top four for race two, followed by Linus Lundqvist and Rossi. O’Ward, Malukas, Rosenqvist and Palou complete the top 10 for the second of two 250-lap contests tomorrow.

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