(641) 417-6007 Mon - Fri, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET
July 23, 2022 | By Paul Kelly, Penske Entertainment
The roll continues for Hunter McElrea.
Rookie McElrea followed his first career Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires victory earlier this month at Mid-Ohio by winning the pole for the race Saturday afternoon at Iowa Speedway. McElrea earned his third pole of the season with a two-lap average speed of 159.503 mph in the No. 27 Andretti Autosport car on the .894-mile oval.
SEE: Qualifying Results
“I’m so happy, man,” McElrea said. “My first oval pole. These guys gave me a rocket. It’s just what I wanted. Yesterday in practice, we were P3. That’s not where we wanted to be, so I knew we were going to be really strong today. We’re in the best spot for the race.”
The 75-lap race starts at 12:20 p.m. ET today, with live coverage on Peacock Premium and the INDYCAR Radio Network. It’s the first oval race of the season for the series.
Series points leader Linus Lundqvist will join McElrea on the front row after his qualifying run of 159.339 in the No. 26 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing car. Lundqvist leads Sting Ray Robb by 87 points with six races remaining.
Robb will start third after his qualifying run of 159.033 in the No. 2 Sekady car fielded by Andretti Autosport. Danial Frost qualified fourth at 158.689 in the No. 68 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing car.
Row three of the race will consist of fifth-place qualifier Christian Rasmussen in fifth at 158.619 in the No. 28 Road to Indy/Stellrecht car fielded by Andretti Autosport and Jacob Abel in sixth at 158.470 in the No. 51 Abel Speedwagon fielded by Abel Motorsports.