By Kirby Arnold, Special Contributor
INDIANAPOLIS – There was a saying in the auto sales market that a brown car would likely stay on the lot for a while. “Stay Around Brown,” sales people would call it.
Felix Rosenqvist’s ride for this year’s Indianapolis 500 is as brown as brown can be, but it’s far from staying in one place around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Rosenqvist cemented his place among favorites for this weekend’s qualifying with a fast lap of 233.372 mph Friday in his Meyer Shank Racing car, cloaked in a brown SiriusXM Morgan Wallen Radio color scheme.
The car is a vast departure from the bright liveries of the other 32 entries, but speed apparently doesn’t see color. Rosenqvist led the field with that fast lap on his final run of the day, getting what he called a slight aero pull from a car that took the track during his final lap of a four-lap qualifying simulation.
“We started pretty slow,” Rosenqvist said. “Our first (run) was 230-something, and we basically found three miles an hour. It’s kind of rare when you’re able to crawl out of a hole like that.”
Rosenqvist, who will be the 11th car to qualify Saturday, recorded the day’s sixth-fastest speed without an aero tow at 232.324.
“I’m excited for tomorrow,” Rosenqvist said. “I didn’t go into qualifying day (thinking) we have a chance for pole, and now I’m kind of hungry for it.”
Alexander Rossi of Ed Carpenter Racing ranked second overall at 232.932 and fourth without a tow at 232.416.
Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske led the no-tow list at 232.674, which also ranked third fastest overall. McLaughlin and teammate David Malukas ran only seven laps Friday, fewer than anyone else in the field. Malukas was ninth on the no-tow list (232.050) and 16th overall (232.110). Penske’s Josef Newgarden ran 18 laps with a best of 231.848 that was the 14th-fastest no-tow and 20th fastest overall.
Rosenqvist became a father on May 4 when his wife Emilie gave birth to daughter Stella.
“It definitely widened my span of possible emotions,” he said. “I’m Scandinavian, so I don’t really have many emotions to start with. It becomes, like, the No. 1 coolest thing you’ve ever done, and everything kind of pales in comparison. I feel like as a driver it kind of makes you a bit calmer, a bit more confident maybe, a little less worried about things. You kind of go out and drive.”
With 33 entries and no bumping this year, the weather may deliver the biggest drama for qualifying. As of Friday evening, there was a 64 percent chance of thunderstorms with wind and hail on Saturday. Sunshine and 85-degree temperatures are forecast for Sunday.
Without bumping, the qualifying format this year will have all cars make four-lap runs on Saturday (barring a long interruption for rain) with the fastest 15 advancing to a knockout format that will determine the pole starting position and the first five rows for the May 24 race. Those who qualify 16th through 33rd will lock into those starting spots and won’t run Sunday.
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