Scott Dixon has claimed pole position for the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Photo: Icon Sportswire 2021
The reigning IndyCar champion has clocked the fastest four lap average speed in the final fast nine shoot-out at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
He recorded an average speed of 231.685mph, just three one hundredths of a mile quicker than American Colton Herta.
"Towards the end of that (last) lap there it got pretty sketchy and we scrubbed a ton of speed but three one hundredths (of a mile). It doesn't matter what it is we'll take that," Dixon said.
"I could see they making some adjustments to the car before I rolled out. Nobody told me anything. I told (engineer Michael) Cannon I didn't want to hear about it.
"It was pretty loose. The last lap I was hoping that I was going to make it through turn three. I turned in a little too early."
It is the fourth time Dixon, 40, has claimed pole position in his decorated IndyCar career.
He won from pole in 2008, but was fourth in 2015 and 32nd in 2017.
Scott Dixon at Indianapolis Photo: Icon Sportswire
"It's been a little while since I had a pole so it's nice to get it here."
It's the fourth time he has qualified fastest for the Indy 500.
Dixon had to settle for second place last year and feels he has unfinished business at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"Always but you know this place owes me nothing.
"I'm very privileged and very lucky to come here and race and to come with the team I do it with.
"We lost as a team last year and we're all very hungry and we have four great cars with Chip's team.
"We're going to obviously take the PNC Bank car to the lead but if it's not me I hope it's one of my three team-mates."
Scott Dixon's Chip Ganassi Racing team-mates Tony Kanaan, Alex Palou and Marcus Ericsson will start from fifth, sixth and ninth respectively.
Fellow New Zealander Scott McLaughlin will start from 17th in his Indy 500 debut.