INDIANAPOLIS – Once considered IndyCar’s hottest prospect and a driver who led laps for Team Penske in the Indianapolis 500 won the pole for Saturday’s NASCAR Pennzoil 150 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
It’s AJ Allmendinger of Kaulig Racing, who won the pole in Saturday’s final round of qualifications with a fast lap at 97.744 mph in the No. 16 Hyperice Chevrolet around the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.
“This is awesome,” said Allmendinger, who led laps in the 2013 Indianapolis 500 at Team Penske. “I know it doesn’t really mean anything as far as the race, but any time you can win a pole at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it’s something special.”
Allmendinger was faster than Austin Cindric’s 97.389 mph effort in the No. 22 PPG Ford for Team Penske.
Justin Haley of nearby Winamac, Ind., was third at 97.309 mph in the LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing followed by Justin Allgaier’s 97.212 mph effort in the BRAND Chevrolet.
Ty Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota rounded out the top five at 96.934 mph.
NASCAR Cup Series star Chase Elliott replaced Xfinity Series playoff hopeful Michael Annett as the driver of the No. 1 Allstate Peterbilt Chevrolet as Annett continues to recover from surgery to repair a stress fracture in his right femur.
Elliott will start 25th in Saturday’s race that begins at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
Allmendinger’s pole was his third in 48 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. This is his first pole and 17th top-10 start in 2021.
A.J. Allmendinger claimed the pole for Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. (Al Steinberg Photo)