After he quit sandbagging, IZOD IndyCar driver, WILL POWER/Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, took his third consecutive pole position for Sunday’s GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, with a record lap of 1:17.2709/111.116 mph. No matter how fast a pole lap, it would be a new track record since the circuit was newly reconfigured to open up Turns Seven, Nine and Eleven. The track is now 2.385 miles.
The Qualifying Bonus Point strengthened Power’s lead in the championship chase, making him six points ahead of his closest contender, RYAN HUNTER-REAY/Andretti Autosport Chevrolet. RHR qualified seventh. This was Power’s fourth pole this season, second in a row, and twenty-eighth overall.
Power said “I had a feeling between Briscoe and myself, it was going to be a good battle. He was really quick. But ultimately he was ‑‑ if he hadn’t made that mistake on the last corner he probably would have been on pole. But I think it’s been a good track for us. Ultimately, I would say, it’s been a good track for Penske. I think that we have consistent cars here, and I can see the race is going to be pretty wide open with the way the windows work out, extending the race by ten laps. So there will probably be more passing, too. So expect a lot of action. Hopefully not with me.”
Power’s teammate and companion on the front row of the grid, Briscoe, spoke to Team Orders. “Well, we’ll try not to crash into each other, that’s for sure. But how much ‑‑ how much? No. We’ll race smart out there. And certainly it’s a long race. I want to win the race as much as anybody. And it means a lot to me as well. So we’ll see how it plays out.”
Third through Six in the fourth and final Qualifying session – known as The Firestone Fast Six – SEBASTIEN BOURDAIS/TrueCar Dragon Racing Honda, HELIO CASTROEVES/Penske Truck Rental Chevrolet, SCOTT DIXON and DARIO FRANCHITTI/Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Franchitti was the only driver to switch to primary tires for the Fast Six. Everyone else ran the softer red option Firestone tires.
The ambient temperature was 68-69 degrees F, with a breeze with attitude. The track temperature was was 100-105 degrees F.
If Power wins Sunday, not only will he have the Sonoma IndyCar Triple Crown of three consecutive pole positions and victories, Chevrolet will clinch the Manufacturer’s Championship.
A group of photogs who traveled together on course told me that there was no doubt in their minds that Power was the fastest driver through The Bus Stop corner – the chicane going into Turn Ten. He really worked the turn
IndyCar drivers play waiting games – head games or whatever. For the first 15-minute Qualifying session the cars just sat, the drivers waiting for someone else to be the first one out. Ever bold, JAMES HINCHCLIFFE/Andretti Autosport Chevrolet finally broke the ice and went on course with half the session gone. Then it was follow-the-leader for the 13-driver group.
For Group Two, it was the same scenario. About halfway through the session JAMES JAKES/Dale Coyne Racing Honda braved it out, eventually followed by some others who trickled onto the track. Power waited until the last five minutes to venture out, and then he appeared to sandbag for two laps before rising to the top. His speed wasn’t quite as good as his teammate, Briscoe, in the First Group.
For Group Three again it was a waiting game. Castroneves was first out at the half-way point, showing the way for the other reluctant drivers.
For the Fast Six, again the reluctance to be the first driver on course set in. Some impatient journos groused that the session times should be halved and we could all go home earlier.
MIKE CONWAY/A.J.Foyt Enterprises Honda had an off but he still ended up seventh for his group, and ultimately sixteenth overall.
With the new track configuration comes a learning curve, especially in Turn Eleven. There is a yellow line delineating the track from the Pit Lane. Drivers are penalized for dropping two wheels off over that line – a drive-thru during Practice and loss of that lap during Qualifying. Franchitti addressed that in the Q&A. He said he and other drivers come through Turn Eleven looking ahead, right, to the apex – not left to the pit lane. So, it’s not always easy to know or see when two wheels are going over the forbidden yellow line.
SIMONA de SILVESTRO/Lotus-HVM Racing is one of two females running this weekend and could be the only one of the two with a female crew member. KATE GUNDACH of Pittsburgh PA works as the Data Engineer for the HVM team. This is her first year in motorsports and she’s really enjoying it. Gundach now lives in Indy near the team.
Sunday’s 85-lap race starts at 1pm local time/4pm ET, shown live on NBC Sports Network.