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 |
Ryan Hunter-Reay ready to help Alexander Rossi's IndyCar title bid
Schmidt Peterson IndyCar team: Wickens is now breathing unassisted
How Ericsson achieved Indy immortality as Ganassi's main man stumbled
Chip Ganassi Racing team was strong again in the Indianapolis 500, with poleman Scott Dixon and reigning champion Alex Palou leading almost three quarters of the race between them. But when dominator Dixon was penalised for pitlane speeding, ex-Formula 1 driver Marcus Ericsson stepped up to score the biggest win of his career and seize the IndyCar points lead
Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021
In an enthralling 2021 IndyCar campaign, the series bounced back from its COVID-19 truncated year prior and Alex Palou defeated both the established order and his fellow young guns to clinch a maiden title. It capped a remarkable season with plenty of standout performers
How F1's other IndyCar exile finally unlocked his potential
Romain Grosjean's swashbuckling rookie year in IndyCar captured the imagination of many in 2021. But another ex-Formula 1 driver whose potential was masked by five years of toil in, at best, middling machinery also enjoyed a breakout year in 2021 - winning twice and finishing sixth in points. Here's how Marcus Ericsson finally delivered on his promise
How Ganassi's relentless new champion outfoxed IndyCar's best
IndyCar sophomore Alex Palou stunned by overcoming team-mate Scott Dixon and the rest of a white-hot field in 2021. He was consistently fast and crucially showed a level head, rebounding well from setbacks to put himself in a near unassailable position entering the final round
Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCar’s next winning match-up?
Despite appearing to have an IndyCar job for life with Meyer Shank Racing, Jack Harvey’s departure and move to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing sparked plenty of debate. However, Harvey's and RLL's combined strengths could prove to be a winning combination - if they get the balance right
Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing IndyCar win
Saturday 16 October marks the 10th anniversary of Dan Wheldon’s death. David Malsher-Lopez pays tribute, then asks Wheldon’s race engineer from 2011, Todd Malloy, to recall that magical second victory at the Indianapolis 500
Why Kyle Kirkwood is America's new IndyCar ace-in-waiting
Kyle Kirkwood, the record-setting junior formula driver, sealed the Indy Lights championship last weekend. But despite an absurdly strong junior career and scholarship money, his next move is far from clear
Why IndyCar title glory is just the start for Ganassi's new star
Newly-crowned IndyCar champion Alex Palou has been lauded as a complete driver and veteran-like in only his second season. The 24-year-old is still in the early days of his career, but the parallels are there for all to see with his six-time champion Chip Ganassi Racing team-mate who has been CGR's team leader since 2014