BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Team Penske took its medicine this week, and apparently the prescription is already working.
In one of the darkest weeks in Team Penske history — at least in this century — the most successful team in auto racing history has operated under a dark cloud of adversity.
It stems from Josef Newgarden’s disqualification from the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, becoming the first IndyCar race winner to be disqualified since Al Unser, Jr. at Portland in June 1995. Fellow Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin was also disqualified from his third-place finish and Will Power was penalized, but not disqualified.
Meantime, Roger Penske — who owns IndyCar, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Indianapolis 500 as well as Team Penske — has had to restore trust and faith among the IndyCar team owners.
Penske held an owner’s meeting before Saturday’s qualifications at Barber Motorsports Park for Sunday’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix. When the 30-minute meeting concluded, the team owners in attendance did not reveal specifics as qualifications were about to begin.
. @IndyCar team owners enter a meeting with series owner Roger Penske at @BarberMotorPark pic.twitter.com/k8Y7t4QmYl
— Bruce Martin (@BruceMartin_500) April 27, 2024
When qualifications ended, Team Penske had restored some pride as McLaughlin won the pole in the Firestone Fast Six with a time of 1:05.9490 around the 17-turn, 2.3-mile Barber Motorsports Park for a lap at 125.552 mph in the No. 3 Chevrolet. It was his sixth career IndyCar pole.
His Team Penske teammate, Power, was second at 1:06.0460 (125.367 mph) in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet.
“Look, it obviously means a lot,” McLaughlin said. “I’m really proud for Good Ranchers to come back here with another fast car. Ultimately proud for Team Penske. 1-2, it’s quite tough to come by in any series, let alone IndyCar. Obviously after the week we’ve all had, it’s a nice little reward.”
Power believes the rebound was very important after the dark week the team endured.
“Good bounce back for the team,” Power said. “Man, from the moment we rolled off the truck, the thing’s been great. Really haven’t changed much at all. Felt comfortable the whole time. Just cool to be back in the Fast Six each week. Felt like we should have done it at St. Pete. Yeah, enjoying it a lot. Enjoying it a lot. Like fighting for poles.
“Always sucks to miss out by a little bit. At least this is like almost a 10th. The hundredths really hurt. It’s cool to start up the front. We’re strong in racing. So determined to win a race, man. If I get a sniff of a win, it’s been so long. I’m hanging for that. So, starting there gives you a great shot.”
Christian Lundgaard of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was third at 1:06.0818 (125.299 mph) in the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda. He was followed by Pato O’Ward’s 1:06.2940 (124.898 mph) in the No. 5 Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren, Felix Rosenqvist’s No. 60 Honda was fifth at 1:06.4524 (124.600 mph).
Marcus Armstrong of Chip Ganassi Racing rounded out the Fast Six at 1:06.9022 (123.763 mph) in the No. 11 Honda.
Newgarden, the Team Penske driver who has had the worst week of the three, will start eighth after he did not advance into the Fast Six. Newgarden’s best time was 1:06.2908 (124.904 mph) in the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet.
“I’m here with my team, man, I’m ready to rock,” Newgarden said after his run.
And, so is Team Penske, ready to put the dark week behind and race into the bright lights of a more hopeful season.
“Look, just take it as it comes,” McLaughlin said. “Ultimately, we’re always out there to win. Like I said before, it’s been a tough week, but it is what it is. We’ve moved forward. We’ll just keep starting our championship I guess comeback we would like to say and do the best we can. The best thing we can do is continue getting poles and hope to get a win, but we know it’s going to be hard.”