Within the 106 runnings of the Indianapolis 500 from 1911 by way of 2022, 11 drivers earned back-to-back pole positions… and that’s the place the story ends.
With so few data left to be set at “The Biggest Spectacle in Racing,” a big one stays as 2021-22 pole winner Scott Dixon has an opportunity this weekend to turn out to be the primary driver in Indy 500 historical past to attain three consecutive poles.
“Three in a row…actually, I haven’t even thought of that,” Dixon informed RACER. “I haven’t even thought there was two in a row. More often than not you concentrate on those that received away greater than the precise ones you knew you nailed and received. However what I like about qualifying is the curler coaster trip that you just take to get there to try to pull it off. What’s particular concerning the pole is simply the quantity of effort that goes into making these automobiles tremendous quick. It’s a complete crew effort. The strain is certainly on after which there’s making an attempt to nail that proper downforce stage.
“After which annually is its personal factor of what you’re discovering, whether or not it’s wind course, observe temp, or a mixture of the 2. Final yr’s pole for me was one of the crucial pleasant as a result of the automobile was so nicely balanced. It was only a good state of affairs.”
Incomes pole would additionally give the New Zealander six begins from P1, tying Dixon with all-time Indy 500 pole chief Rick Mears.
“If we may pull that off, go for the six, three in a row, be the primary to do this, clearly that might be can be enormous,” the 2008 Indy 500 winner added. “However in the intervening time, the method is simply making an attempt to make the automobile the most effective that we are able to after which come finish of Saturday, be within the Quick 12 after which hopefully Sunday we are able to make it to the Quick Six after which clearly go on to try to battle for the pole.
“However this place can throw bizarre issues at you and we may even be out of it on the primary day. So we’ll preserve our heads down, preserve after it and hopefully we might be preventing for a pole on Sunday.”
Of Dixon’s 11 predecessors, all however the late Scott Brayton had the chance to go for 3 straight poles.
- Ralph DePalma: Consecutive poles set in 1920-1921, however certified third in 1922
- Rex Mays: 1935-1936, certified twenty third in 1937
- Eddie Sachs: 1960-1961, certified twenty seventh in 1962
- Parnelli Jones: 1962-1963, certified 4th in 1964
- Mario Andretti: 1966-1967, certified 4th in 1968
- AJ Foyt: 1974-1975, certified fifth in 1976
- Tom Sneva: 1977-1978, certified 2nd in 1979
- Rick Mears: 1988-1989, certified 2nd in 1990
- Scott Brayton: 1995-1996
- Helio Castroneves: 2009-10, certified sixteenth in 2011
- Ed Carpenter: 2013-14, certified twelfth in 2015
Due to statistician Scott Richards for the historic breakdown.
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