BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Romain Grosjean of Andretti Autosport knows how to play it to the very end.
The former Formula 1 driver from France claimed his second NTT IndyCar Series pole of the season Saturday at Barber Motorsports Park during qualifying for Sunday’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix.
The effort that helped him win his third career IndyCar pole included a great rebound from missing Friday’s first practice session with a blown engine.
“I have a hell of a team,” Grosjean said. “I have three teammates I can rely on; I went with their setup and baseline. From the moment of qually, I knew that I had it.
“We’re starting in the best position to win the race and I’m very confidence that we can win. It’s all good.”
McLaughlin went to the front with 34 seconds remaining, before O’Ward knocked him off just six seconds later.
But in the closing seconds, it was Romain Grosjean who grabbed the pole with a fast lap of 1:05.8396 for a speed of 125.760 miles per hour around the 2.3-mile, 17-turn permanent road course, on a day created for grip and speed with an ambient temperature at 72 degrees and the track temp at 91 degrees.
Grosjean’s No. 28 DHL Honda was the best when it mattered the most – the very end.
It was a lively battle in the final minute involving Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward and Grosjean, each grabbing the fast spot in the closing moments.
Palou finished second in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda at 1:05.9130 (125.620 mph) — losing the pole by six-one-hundredths of a second.
“I knew it was going to be close,” Palou said. “The 28 car had it today. I’m super happy to be starting on the front row again.
“It’s so close in IndyCar as soon as you have a second good strategy working out, it will make an interesting race.”
O’Ward’s No. 5 Chevrolet from Arrow McLaren was third with a fast time of 1:05.9382 (125.572 mph) followed by Scott McLaughlin’s No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet at 1:05.9515 (125.547 mph).
Scott Dixon, who has six second-place finishes and nine podium finishes but has yet to win a race at Barber Motorsports Park, was fifth at 1:06.0723 (125.317 mph) in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Christian Lundgaard of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing rounded out the Firestone Fast Six in the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda at 1:06.1601 (125.151 mph).
In the preceding round, Will Power of Team Penske ran off course with seconds left in the session as did Ed Carpenter Racing’s Rinus VeeKay. Neither of those two advanced into the Fast Six.
“Scott went off into turn one on the money lap and all that grass went onto the track, there was so much grip taken away in that last corner, I had to get off on the following lap,” Power said. “We’re at the end of our miles on the engine and didn’t think we had enough to get into the Fast Six.
“Just hanging in there.”
Grosjean was the fastest at 1:05.6829 (126.060 mph) followed by O’Ward’s 1:05.7512 (125.929 mph), McLaughlin’s 1:05.8061 (125.824 mph), Palou’s 1:05.8386 (125.762 mph), Christian Lundgaard’s 1:05.8661 (125.710 mph) and Dixon’s 1:05.8986 (125.648 mph).
Missing the Fast Six were Josef Newgarden, Felix Rosenqvist, Rinus VeeKay, Alexander Rossi, Will Power and Kyle Kirkwood.
“I’m frustrated with myself and it’s disappointing to not transfer,” Newgarden said. “We have a fast car.
“We can win from seventh — 100 percent, 100 percent.”
Earlier in the second segment on the opening lap, Power and VeeKay had a moment where the Team Penske driver did not like getting passed by VeeKay on the warmup lap.
“Will got a little heated, but that is just Will,” VeeKay said. “I had to do something to get my place back on the track.”
Earlier, Grosjean recorded the second fastest speed in the first group in round one at 1:05.6839. That pushed Marcus Ericsson out of the final advancement position.
“Yesterday, we were really happy and then today in the morning session, the car wasn’t as good,” Ericsson said. “It’s missing a few tenths. We need to take a look at that.
“I can’t blame traffic this time. We lacked a little bit of speed. But we can still get a strong result on Sunday.”
Newgarden was the fastest driver in Group 1 at 1:05.5883 in the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet. Grosjean was second followed by Alexander Rossi’s No. 7 Chevrolet from Arrow McLaren at 1:05.6939. Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Autosport was fourth in the No. 27 Honda at 1:05.7353 followed by nine-time Barber podium finisher and six-time second-place finisher Scott Dixon’s 1:05.7721.
Rinus VeeKay of Ed Carpenter Racing was the last driver in that group to advance with a lap 1:06.7808 in the No. 21 Chevrolet.
Missing the cut were Ericsson, Callum Ilott, David Malukas, Graham Rahal, Helio Castroneves, Sting Ray Robb, and Benjamin Pedersen.
Palou was the fastest in the second group at 1:05.5871 in the No. 10 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing followed by O’Ward’s 1:05.7400 in the No. 5 Chevrolet. Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin was third in the No. 3 Chevrolet at 1:05.7478 followed by Christian Lundgaard’s No. 45 Honda at 1:05.8342. Felix Rosenqvist of Arrow McLaren was fifth in the No. 6 Chevrolet followed by Will Power’s 1:05.9768 in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet.
Missing the cut were Colton Herta, Simon Pagenaud, Devlin De Francesco, Conor Daly, Augustin Canapino, Marcus Armstrong and Santino Ferrucci.
Armstrong was penalized for impeding Lundgaard and lost his fastest lap.
“We were both on our warmup lap,” Armstrong said. “There was a car in front going slow as well. Nevertheless, we did not progress.
“It’s a shame.
“From what I’ve seen so far in IndyCar, it’s definitely possible in the race.”
Keyword: Grosjean Plays It To The End In Alabama