Gateway IndyCar: Scott Dixon handed pole as qualifying cancelled
IndyCar Series points leader Scott Dixon will start on pole position for Saturday night's race at Gateway after qualifying was cancelled due to a day blighted by bad weather
Dixon's title rival Alexander Rossi topped the only practice session run so far, which featured a further rain delay as an altered schedule followed earlier showers.
Back-to-back wins have allowed Rossi to close to within 29 points of the championship leader and, with the grid set by championship order, it means Rossi will line up alongside Dixon on the front row.
Schmidt Peterson Motorsports rookie Robert Wickens' crash and serious injuries at Pocono last weekend mean Simon Pagenaud - behind the Canadian in seventh in the standings - will start sixth. Penske had struggled in the opening practice session.
The series, drivers and teams are paying tribute to Wickens with #GetWellWickens stickers emblazoned on the cars.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Graham Rahal will start seventh ahead of James Hinchcliffe, Sebastien Bourdais and Marco Andretti.
Bourdais had shown promising pace for Dale Coyne Racing in practice, having been third behind Rossi and Dixon, with Tony Kanaan and Ed Jones his nearest rivals.
Kanaan will start the race 15th, three places behind Jones as Takuma Sato and Spencer Pigot split the duo in the standings.
Gabby Chaves, returning to Harding Racing this weekend for the first time in three races, starts near rear of the field ahead of only Carlin's Max Chilton and Pietro Fittipaldi.
Fittipaldi's injury suffered in the World Endurance Championship at Spa earlier this year, as well as sharing his Dale Coyne Racing seat with Zachary Claman DeMelo, means he will start in 21st and last.
The Gateway race will be the first time an IndyCar race grid has been set by points since 2015 and the first oval grid set by championship standings since '09.
Dixon does not get the usual bonus point for pole as qualifying did not take place.
Starting grid
| Pos | Driver | Team | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scott Dixon | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara/Honda |
| 2 | Alexander Rossi | Andretti Autosport | Dallara/Honda |
| 3 | Josef Newgarden | Team Penske | Dallara/Chevrolet |
| 4 | Will Power | Team Penske | Dallara/Chevrolet |
| 5 | Ryan Hunter-Reay | Andretti Autosport | Dallara/Honda |
| 6 | Simon Pagenaud | Team Penske | Dallara/Chevrolet |
| 7 | Graham Rahal | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | Dallara/Honda |
| 8 | James Hinchcliffe | Schmidt Peterson Motorsports | Dallara/Honda |
| 9 | Sebastien Bourdais | Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan | Dallara/Honda |
| 10 | Marco Andretti | Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian | Dallara/Honda |
| 11 | Ed Carpenter | Ed Carpenter Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet |
| 12 | Ed Jones | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara/Honda |
| 13 | Takuma Sato | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | Dallara/Honda |
| 14 | Spencer Pigot | Ed Carpenter Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet |
| 15 | Tony Kanaan | A.J. Foyt Enterprises | Dallara/Chevrolet |
| 16 | Zach Veach | Andretti Autosport | Dallara/Honda |
| 17 | Charlie Kimball | Carlin | Dallara/Chevrolet |
| 18 | Matheus Leist | A.J. Foyt Enterprises | Dallara/Chevrolet |
| 19 | Gabby Chaves | Harding Racing | Dallara/Chevrolet |
| 20 | Max Chilton | Carlin | Dallara/Chevrolet |
| 21 | Pietro Fittipaldi | Dale Coyne Racing | Dallara/Honda |
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About this article
| Series | IndyCar |
| Drivers | Scott Dixon |
| Author | Tom Errington |
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