Indy has eight different poles in the first eight races for the first time in 60 years

For the first time since 1961, Indy had eight different drivers start from pole position in the first eight rounds. Penske's Scott McLaughlin was the first pole at St. Pete, and the only one so far to convert pole into a win. In the next round at Texas, Felix Rosenqvist was fastest in qualifying in his McLaren, but finished the race only 21st.

Colton Herta took Andretti's first pole position of the year at Long Beach, but ended the race on the wall. At the next round in Alabama, Rinus VeeKay started in the top position on the grid and finished a good third with Carpenter.

At Indianapolis GP 1, Penske's Will Power took his sixth pole position at the circuit and ended up with a podium finish after a chaotic race. Scott Dixon earned Ganassi's first and only pole position in 2022 at the Indianapolis 500, but finished only 21st after a penalty for speeding in the pits.

In the last two rounds, two American poles. Josef Newgarden took Penske's third pole position in Detroit, while Alexander Rossi started from the front last Sunday (12th) at Road America. Both failed to win in the races, but did achieve good results, with Newgarden fourth at Belle Isle Park and Rossi finishing third at the Elkhart Lake GP.

The last time Indy had eight different poles in the first eight rounds, the streak went on for ten races, until American Eddie Sachs was fastest in qualifying at Trenton. Sachs was the only driver to start more than once in 1961.

In 2022, some important names in the category have yet to win pole-positions and can continue the streak of history. Reigning Indy 500 champion Álex Palou, reigning Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson, both of Ganassi, Mexican McLaren's Pato O'Ward, and Andretti's Frenchman Romain Grosjean are some names that have been close but have yet to start in the position of honor this year.

Indy returns on July 3rd for the Mid-Ohio GP, with complete coverage from GRANDE PRÊMIO.