Will Power Leads Team Penske Front Row Sweep At Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, FL (93.7 The Fan) -- Team Penske's Will Power is on the pole position for Sunday's NTT IndyCar Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.  Power's best lap of 1:00.4594-seconds on used tires around the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit narrowly beat his teammate Josef Newgarden, who's lap of 1:00.5570-seconds was just 0.0976 behind Power to make it an all Team Penske front row.

The pole position was a record 8th for Power at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and was his 54th career pole, moving him within 12 of tying legend Mario Andretti for the most all-time.

"I have to say it was a very neat lap and I didn't leave anything on the table," said Power.  "I didn't expect to be on the pole because we had used tires.  We didn't have new tires like a couple of guys so, over the moon man, over the moon to start on pole."

"Everyone really executed today," said Newgarden.  "I'm only disappointed in myself.  I didn't put together the best lap there when it really counted.  It's hard not to be disappointed when you're quick and we had a little better tires."

IndyCar Series rookie Felix Rosenqvist made it an all Chip Ganassi Racing second row by qualifying third in the No. 10 NTT Data Honda following a fast lap of 1:00.6884.  Rosenqvist's teammate Scott Dixon, the defending Series Champion, qualified fourth in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda with a best lap of 1:00.8544.

"I'm pretty happy overall with the result," said Rosenqvist.  "We are starting side-by-side tomorrow as teammates and the golden rule there is to always respect your teammate." 

Dixon almost didn't make it into the final round after spinning earlier in qualifying.  Fortunately, IndyCar Series stewards ruled Dixon did not impede the progress of any other competitors, so the "Iceman" was not penalized.  Dixon was below the cut line after the first session but advanced when Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Takuma Sato was penalized for causing a local yellow flag that impeded the qualifying effort of another competitor.  Per IndyCar rules, Sato forfeited his fastest lap to that point, preventing Sato from advancing.

"We got lucky with Sato getting a penalty to advance through, but you take the breaks when you get them and just make the most of it," said Dixon.  "I've been on the other end of it.  We still have a little work to do as I'm getting loose on entry under braking."

"I had a little moment in turn 4 and went into the escape road, which caused a yellow, so IndyCar took my fastest lap away," said Sato.  "My second fastest lap was not quick enough to advance in the top six."

It's an all Andretti Autosport third row with teammates Ryan Hunter-Reay and Alexander Rossi lining up fifth and sixth.  Hunter-Reay's best lap of 1:01.9784-seconds was a tick slower than what he ran when he set the fastest time in Saturday morning's practice session.

Rossi's best lap of 1:01.7739 did not reflect the speed in the No. 27 NAPA Auto Parts Honda.

Jack Harvey, Charlie Kimball, James Hinchcliffe and Graham Rahal rounded out the Top 10 with rookies Colton Herta and Ben Hanley will starting 11th and 12th.

A red flag brought out by Santino Ferrucci during the first qualifying session cost several drivers who were unable to get back on track before time expired.  Among those who failed to advance as a result: Team Penske's Simon Pagenaud, Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser Sullivan's Sebastien Bourdais, the race's two-time defending winner, and A.J. Foyt Racing's Tony Kanaan.

Harding Steinbrenner Racing's Colton Herta was penalized for qualifying interference.  Herta had set the third fastest lap of the second session.

Race day on Sunday will feature a 30-minute warm-up from 9:20 a.m. to 9:50 a.m., so drivers will have one final time to dial in their race cars.

The green flag drops on the 2019 NTT IndyCar Season tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. and will be televised by NBCSN and can be heard on Advance Auto Parts IndyCar Radio Network affiliates.