LONG BEACH, Calif. — Kyle Kirkwood received the primary pole of his IndyCar profession Saturday with a flying quick lap across the downtown streets of Lengthy Seaside, giving the collection three completely different pole winners by way of the primary three races of the season.

The Andretti Autosport crew erupted in celebration when Kirkwood, a 24-year-old from Jupiter, Florida, returned to his pit stall. He was instantly congratulated by teammate Romain Grosjean and staff proprietor Michael Andretti.

Kirkwood, in his second season of IndyCar, will lead the sector to inexperienced Sunday in essentially the most prestigious road course race in the USA.

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“I’m simply ecstatic in the mean time,” Kirkwood mentioned. “I could not be happier with this, the third weekend with the staff.”

Kirkwood was a part of the Andretti improvement system however after profitable the Lights championship in 2021 needed to go away the group as a result of it did not have an IndyCar seat for him to be promoted. So he spent final yr with AJ Foyt Racing till Andretti may deliver him again this season because the substitute for Alexander Rossi.

“He is the true deal, I can inform you,” Andretti mentioned. “He is been a pleasure on the staff. We actually get pleasure from him.”

Andretti two weeks in the past made a strategist change for Kirkwood and Colton Herta, swapping staff leaders forward of the race at Texas Motor Speedway. Kirkwood was given Bryan Herta, Colton’s father, who has guided two drivers to Indianapolis 500 wins.

“Proper now it is figuring out rather well,” Andretti mentioned. “Bryan being on his radio will likely be much more useful for Kyle and the group. He is nice for a younger driver, and he helped Colton when he began out. We simply felt it was higher for the staff.”

Marcus Ericsson, winner of the season-opening race, certified second for Chip Ganassi Racing and was adopted by Grosjean. Ganassi drivers Alex Palou and Scott Dixon certified fourth and fifth as Honda drivers took the highest 5 spots.

Pato O’Ward, the IndyCar factors chief after back-to-back runner-up finishes to begin the season, certified sixth and was the one Chevrolet to advance into the “Quick Six” spherical. O’Ward had dominated each session till the ultimate spherical of qualifying, when he appeared to lock his tires and fell out of pole-winning rivalry.

No Workforce Penske automobiles superior into the Quick Six. Will Energy was eradicated within the first spherical, Scott McLaughlin was eradicated within the second spherical, and defending race winner Josef Newgarden was bounced within the closing minute of the third spherical.

Newgarden will begin eighth Sunday.

Additionally knocked out of the third session was Colton Herta, who received at Lengthy Seaside in 2021 and dominated the weekend final yr till he crashed out of the race.

CURBING CRASHES

Callum Ilott demanded IndyCar pay for damages to his No. 77 Chevrolet after he crashed in observe Saturday as a result of a bit of curbing that had been added to the observe in a single day.

The curbing was not current in Friday’s opening 75-minute IndyCar observe as a result of it had been broken in an earlier session with sports activities automobiles on observe. The curbing was reinstalled in a single day, however groups apparently weren’t knowledgeable of the alteration.

“I used to be doing the identical line as [Friday]. I do not perceive what occurred, however I took off once I hit the curb,” Ilott mentioned. “And in the event that they did not inform us [about a change], then they’ll pay for the injury, as a result of that is a joke. It units everybody on the again foot.

“I am sorry to everybody on the staff, however once more, I used to be simply doing the identical factor as [Friday]. In the event that they modified one thing and did not inform us, what can I do about that?”

Ilott took to Twitter to demand a proof from IndyCar and race promoters for the observe alteration that additionally brought about Rinus VeeKay to crash.

“Ideally earlier than the session subsequent time. Saves everybody from damaged wrists and tens of 1000’s in injury,” Ilott mentioned within the tweet he later deleted.

The curbing was current throughout Thursday’s observe stroll — when groups and drivers stroll the course to look at it — and was a part of the course for final yr’s race. As a result of the curbing had been there Thursday, IndyCar didn’t really feel it was essential to notify groups concerning the in a single day change.

Nonetheless, groups have been knowledgeable about new paint across the pit exit and Flip 1 to higher delineate the boundary strains.

BUMPING IS BACK

There will likely be bumping in qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, with a thirty fourth entry confirmed for driver RC Enerson.

Enerson, who did not qualify for his first Indy 500 two years in the past, will race with present Indy NXT staff Abel Motorsports.

Solely 33 automobiles make the Indy 500 subject, so the Enerson effort ensures not less than one automotive will likely be bumped in qualifying. It isn’t clear if Abel Motorsports will likely be ready to take part in subsequent week’s two-day open take a look at at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Abel runs two automobiles in Indy NXT, and the try to qualify for the Indy 500 could possibly be an indication that the staff is beginning the method of shifting as much as the highest open-wheel racing collection in the USA.