After a lackluster 2025, Indy 500 winer Marcus Ericsson has won his first pole at the first Arlington GP in Texas.
This new track laid out around home stadiums of the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers that has been getting great reviews from the drivers proved to be throwing surprises throughout the day.
Marcus just squeaked through the top twelve second round to make it into the Firestone Fast Six.
“I want to shout out my pit crew here,” Ericsson said. “They’ve done a tremendous job. We were all over the place in Q1, but in Q2 and Q3 they improved the car. It’s just amazing.”
This is Ericsson’s first NTT pole after 117 tries.
“I’ve waited long enough; I can tell you that,” a jubilant Ericsson said. “I think 2013 was the last pole I had. I feel like this is a giant thing for me because of that. Two-hundredths of a second away at St. Pete.”
Starting second will be reigning and four-time series champion Palou at 1:34.8180 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Crowd favorite Pato O’Ward starts third with his 1:34.8453 run the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Getting a handle on his new ride at Andretti in fourth position on the starting grid will be Will Power with a lap of 1:35.0856 in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda.
Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian teammates took the third row. Felix Rosenqvist will start fifth after his lap of 1:35.1607 in the No. 60 SiriusXM/Texas A&M Honda, with Marcus Armstrong sixth at 1:35.6012 in the No. 66 ROOT Insurance Honda
The fastest drive in practice, Kyle Kikwood could only manage seventh in qualifying today.
Series leader Josef Newgarden damaged his car in second practice forced him into a backup car and will start eleventh.
His Penske teammate hit the wall in qualifying and will have to start last.
With high winds forecasted with a weather front coming into the DFW area tomorrow afternoon the race will now start an hour earlier than scheduled.
Story and Photos by Chuck Null
