ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Andretti Autosport has insisted for months that it was doing the behind-the-scenes work to get well from final yr’s brutally disappointing IndyCar season.

The staff received solely two races amongst its 4 drivers, former Formulation One star Romain Grosjean was a bust in his first yr with the staff and Alexander Rossi determined early that his seventh season at Andretti can be the final.

Michael Andretti powered ahead. He signed Colton Herta to a long-term extension, pulled Kyle Kirkwood again into the group and made modifications on the store that had him optimistic for 2023.

To this point, so good on the opening weekend.

Grosjean opened his third season in IndyCar by successful the pole in Saturday qualifying on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg, the place the Frenchman led an all-Andretti entrance row. He surged to the second pole of his IndyCar profession within the waning moments of the session and beat teammate Herta for the highest beginning place in Sunday’s race.

“We acquired right here and I mentioned, ‘Boys, I feel we have got one thing,'” Grosjean mentioned.

His spouse and three kids raced to pit street, with the children leaping into their father’s arms in celebration. Grosjean moved to IndyCar in 2021 after his practically deadly fiery crash in a Formulation One race ended his European profession. He joined Andretti final season however did not have the success he anticipated to attain with certainly one of IndyCar’s prime groups.

“As Mike mentioned, we improved so much from final yr as a staff,” mentioned Grosjean, who added that the development was noticeable in preseason testing. “We labored actually arduous from a troublesome season final yr. The automotive felt way more alive.

“There’s all the time bits and items we are able to enhance on the automotive, however this weekend as a staff we have been very spectacular and hopefully we are able to carry that out within the race.”

The previous two winners of the race — Scott McLaughlin of Group Penske and Herta — each received from the pole. Requested how he felt about his staff’s possibilities on Sunday, Andretti smiled and mentioned “I really feel much more optimistic.”

“I feel we actually studied ourselves and acquired actual trustworthy with ourselves the place we would have liked to enhance. I feel we have achieved it,” Andretti mentioned. “Clearly, the race goes to be one other factor. Hopefully, we are able to have all 4 vehicles undergo the race with out making a mistake. If that occurs, I feel we have now a terrific shot at successful.”

It has been an unimaginable opening weekend for Andretti, which has had three quick vehicles since unloading for Friday apply. Together with Kirkwood, the staff put three drivers into the Quick Six qualifying shootout.

“We have achieved a variety of work, for certain, it is a fairly good feeling,” Andretti mentioned earlier than the final qualifying group. “We all know the competitors has achieved so, too, however thus far, so good. Feels good to have three within the prime six.”

The Andretti group stumbled at the beginning of the ultimate shootout when Kirkwood crashed to deliver out a pink flag.

“Sorry, I hit the wall,” Kirkwood radioed.

Kirkwood, in his second IndyCar season however first with Andretti, mentioned after he locked his brakes that the wind made his qualifying lap “sort of sketchy.”

“Upset, it was lower than perfect,” Kirkwood mentioned. “In the end, we’re within the Quick Six with three vehicles, pleased with that.”

Andretti wasn’t all that bothered by Kirkwood’s stumble.

“Been very, very glad together with his outcomes and testing,” Andretti mentioned. “Up till the final mistake, this weekend he is been doing a terrific job.”

Pato O’Ward of McLaren was the highest-qualifying Chevrolet driver in third and adopted by Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing after which Kirkwood, as Honda drivers took 4 of the highest 5 spots.

McLaughlin of Group Penske went off target within the Quick Six and certified sixth in a Chevy.

Marcus Armstrong, a rookie for Chip Ganassi Racing, was the best qualifier among the many newcomers at thirteenth. The most important qualifying disappointment was Penske driver Josef Newgarden, who missed out on advancing in qualifying by a tick — underneath .04 seconds to teammate Will Energy.

Newgarden will begin 14th and stalked down pit street in anger.