Photo by Kendall Bulkiewicz | The Crow’s Nest
By Kendall Bulkiewicz
Penske driver Scott McLaughlin will lead at the 2025 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg after securing pole position with a blazing lap of 59.4624 seconds.
It was an impressive rebound from the opening practice session on Friday, where McLaughlin’s No. 3 car crashed into the wall on Turns 3 and 4.
The Chevrolet-powered l driver edged out Colton Herta (Andretti Global) and Felix Rosenqvist (Meyer Shank Racing), who will start second and third.
Meyer Shank Racing continued its strong performance with Marcus Armstrong locking in fourth place, marking a personal best in IndyCar qualifying. Christian Lundgaard (Arrow McLaren) and Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) completed the “Fast Six,” setting the stage for an intense battle today.
McLaughlin credited his team for delivering when it mattered.
“It wasn’t an easy start to the weekend, but the crew gave me a fast car, and we executed in qualifying. It’s always a great feeling to be on pole, but now we have to finish the job tomorrow,” McLaughlin said.
While McLaughlin celebrated, Pato O’Ward suffered a disastrous qualifying session, crashing out in the first round and relegating himself to 23rd on the grid. The Arrow McLaren driver, considered a championship contender, now faces a major challenge in fighting through the field. Will Power (Team Penske) also struggled, failing to advance past the first round and settling for 13th place.
Rosenqvist suggested that MSR’s long-run speed could put them in contention for the win.
“I think we surprised some people today. The car has felt great all weekend, and we know our race pace is strong. If we can stay clean in the first stint, we’ll be right in the mix,” Rosenqvist added.
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be broadcast on FOX, with coverage beginning at noon. The green flag is scheduled to wave at approximately 12:29 p.m.
