MONTEREY, Calif. — Earlier this week, Felix Rosenqvist announced he was leaving Arrow McLaren and signed with Meyer Shank Racing for the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season.
He gave his team a going away gift by winning the pole Saturday for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey.
Click here for qualifying results.
The driver from Varnamo, Sweden stole the pole away from Scott McLaughlin in a last second effort in what he called one of his best laps ever.
“It’s the combination of this track, this team, the new pavement, that was a real lap,” Rosenqvist said. “It made that this much more special.
“It’s going to be our final race together here tomorrow and this is a great way to remember the team. In a way, it’s ironic, but it shows what we can do when we get it together like Portland in the race last week (when he finished second to Alex Palou).
“We had a lot of highs this year and way too many lows. But it’s really rewarding when we get it right.”
Rosenqvist received a hug from his Arrow McLaren Competition Director and Race Strategist, Billy Vincent, who oversees his operation. Vincent is leaving Arrow McLaren to start a professional karting operation to help develop younger drivers for a career in racing.
Meantime, Rosenqvist moves on to Meyer-Shank Racing, taking over the car that is being vacated by the injured Simon Pagenaud, who continues to recover from injuries suffered in a crash at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 1.
Rosenqvist grabbed the pole at the last possible moment with a fast time of 1:06.6416 around the 11-turn, 2.238-mile WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in the NO. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
He knocked Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin off the pole after he completed a lap at 1:06.6513 mph in the No. 3 XPEL Chevrolet. McLaughlin had taken pole position just a few seconds earlier.
It’s his eighth front row start of the season.
“We were all on the limit, it’s just so hard to put it together with all the red flags,” McLaughlin said. “You have to be on the limit.
“I was telling (Team Penske President) Tim Cindric, ‘This is why we go IndyCar racing. To do a lap around this place at that pace is so cool.’”
Christian Lundgaard of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was third at 1:096.7478 in the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda. Josef Newgarden of Team Penske was fourth at 1:06.7937 in the No. 2 Hitachi Chevrolet.
“I’m happy for Felix to get that pole leaving Arrow McLaren after this season,” Lundgaard said. “I’m happy for him.
“I wanted to get the pole to finish the second with the most poles, but it wasn’t meant to be today.”
Six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon was fifth at 1:07.0171 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda.
Two-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou rounded out the Fast Six at 1:07.2846 in the No. 10 American Legion Honda.
Lundgaard broke the track record of 1:07.722 set by Helio Castroneves in 2000. Lundgaard broke that record in the Fast 12 session with a lap at 1:06.4610.
Lundgaard was the fastest driver in Saturday morning’s practice session.
In that session, Pato O’Ward spun out of the exit of turn four to end the session.
Just missing out of the Fast Six was rookie Juri Vips, driving in just his second IndyCar Series race for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The driver from Estonia ran a lap at 1:06.8300.
“Before the weekend I didn’t think this was possible,” Vips said. “I knew it would be easier coming into this weekend. I think we managed Portland well. It’s just a shame to miss out on such a small margin.
“One small mistake, but Romain Grosjean backed off and it impeded my first lap.
“There are still things I’m learning. Generally, it’s very good.”
Up front, Rosenqvist was able to end his tenure with both Arrow McLaren and NTT Data on a high note.
“In a way, it’s ironic, but it proves the pace we have had,” Ericsson said. “I made a lot of mistakes, and the team made a lot of mistakes, but the No. 1 thing you want to keep showing as a driver is your pace.
“It’s the last weekend with the team, and a bit emotional. I love all the guys and girls at Arrow McLaren, and this is a fitting way to end it.
“It’s really cool for us to have some good flow here over the weekend. I’m very relaxed and my future is set for the next few years and that has relaxed me.
“It is paying off.”