Qualifying for the NTT IndyCar Series BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland was a bit quirky Saturday.
Arrow McLaren teammates Christian Lundgaard and Pato O'Ward were the two quickest at Portland International Raceway. However, although Lundgaard topped the charts, O'Ward will start on the pole Sunday for the 110-lap, 216.04-mile event which could decide the championship if Palou leaves with a 10-point advantage over O'Ward.
Lundgaard was moved back to seventh place on the starting grid because of a penalty for an unapproved engine change after practice Friday.
Meanwhile, points leader Alex Palou ran off the 12-turn, 1.964-mile road course and nosed into the Turn 11 tire barrier during the Fast Six portion of qualifying. Winner at eight of the 14 races in hand this season, Palou said, "Happy that we had pace. Obviously not happy that I went looking for mushrooms there in the Fast Six."
Palou is seeking his third consecutive series crown and fourth in five years. Palou leads O’Ward by 121 points entering Sunday's race, which will be broadcast on FOX at 3 p.m. ET.
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