INDIANAPOLIS — Pato O’Ward saved everybody ready Friday — even after qualifying ended.

After one other few moments, the stewards made it official — the 22-year-old Mexican in championship competition earned his third pole of the season and fourth total.

Simply seconds after Will Energy thought he’d be taking the No. 1 spot after besting Romain Grosjean, O’Ward crossed the yard of bricks in 1 minute, 10.7147 seconds to cross Energy for Saturday’s race. Energy went 1:10.7214.

“I wished to ensure this was a turning level,” O’Ward mentioned. “We have had a really powerful final three races and we have to get again to victory lane. Rather a lot can occur, however we’re heading in the right direction.”

It was a dramatic begin to what might be a wild, wooly three-race weekend. Grosjean, the Swiss-born French driver, appeared headed towards a second straight pole on Indy’s 14-turn, 2.439-mile street course.

As an alternative, Energy knocked Grosjean out of the highest spot then O’Ward adopted swimsuit, and the stewards denied an enchantment from Workforce Penske.

“On the primary lap, I used to be up and he began slowing and warming his tires and I needed to again up. That is what it was about,” Energy mentioned. “It wasn’t blatant however yeah, it is positive. The highest 4 or 5 vehicles are all on the identical tenth, so its anybody’s race.”

The unimaginable end wasn’t the one massive shock.

Twenty-year-old rookie Christian Lundgaard certified fourth in his IndyCar debut, simply forward of American Colton Herta. The Danish driver who had been climbing the Method One ladder sequence regarded snug after Rahal Lanigan Letterman employed him earlier this week.

“I am clearly having fun with myself and making an attempt exhausting,” he mentioned. “It is superb to be right here and to have the ability to show myself. I did not anticipate to be right here.”

Those that did not make the 12-car shootout have been equally shocking.

Six-time sequence champion Scott Dixon of New Zealand will begin twenty sixth within the 28-car subject after spinning out and rolling backward down the monitor on his last qualifying lap. He wants yet one more win to tie Mario Andretti for second all-time with 52.

“It was a horrible drive, so powerful day for us,” mentioned Dixon who drives the No. 9 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Two-time sequence champ Josef Newgarden, who’s fourth in factors, additionally was eradicated within the first spherical. He certified 14th however will begin twentieth after sequence officers docked him six beginning spots for making an unauthorized engine change following final week’s race in Nashville.

Helio Castroneves, the Brazilian who gained his record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 in Might, will begin twenty third after going 1:11.7319. And 7-time Cup champ and 45-year-old IndyCar rookie Jimmie Johnson will begin twenty second in Ganassi’s No. 48 automotive.

“That was a very good session for me,” Johnson mentioned. “It is a large accomplishment for me.”

The one driver who could have been happier was O’Ward.

“I’ve by no means felt so good about operating on the Indy street course,” he mentioned. “We’ll get some good factors tomorrow.”