INDIANAPOLIS - Scott McLaughlin rallied from a practice crash on Friday to win pole for the IndyCar Series' season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday afternoon.
McLaughlin recorded a top lap in 59.4624 seconds in his No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet to claim the 11th pole of his career. He won on the streets of St. Petersburg from pole in 2022.
“I just wanted to get pole first race of the year," McLaughlin said. "Good vibes. It’s just great vibes – immaculate vibes, we like to say. I’m very excited.”
Friday was an eventful day for the New Zealand driver. He announced earlier in the day he signed a long-term contract extension with Team Penske. Then he was near the top of the speed charts in practice before tearing up the front of his car after hitting the wall in turn three.
“The guys and girls on this team, they’re stars," said McLaughlin. "I had to repay them. I made a little silly mistake there, and I was glad to come back with them."
The pole is the 70th for Team Penske in the IndyCar Series and 699th across all motorsport series the famed race team has competed in over the years.
Andretti Global's Colton Herta will start second alongside McLaughlin in the first row.
Meyer Shank Racing teammates Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Armstrong with roll off third and fourth in the second row. Arrow McLaren's Christian Lundgaard will start fifth and Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon sixth to round out the Fast Six.
Back-to-back series champion Alex Palou will start eighth, while back-to-back Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden will take the green flag 10th.
Reigning St. Pete GP winner Pato O'Ward will start 13th. The Arrow McLaren driver was awarded the race win a month later after Newgarden was disqualified for a rules violation with the push-to-pass function.
The green flag drops on the new season and the 100-lap race at noon on FOX59.