“Why the Indianapolis 500 Continues to Captivate America and the World: Insights from the 2023 Qualifying Race”

On Saturday, May 20, 2023, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted the first day of qualifying for the 107th Indianapolis 500, which provided the grid positions 10-30. The top 12 spots and positions 31-33 will be determined on Sunday, May 21, 2023.

Felix Rosenqvist had an impressive four-lap run at 233.947 mph, which topped Saturday’s qualifying session and puts him in contention for the pole position. However, he and 11 other drivers will compete for the pole on Sunday against Alexander Rossi, Alex Palou, Rinus VeeKay, Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Takuma Sato, Pato O’Ward, Santino Ferrucci, Marcus Ericsson, Benjamin Pedersen, and Will Power.

It is worth noting that Rosenqvist’s qualifying effort is the third-fastest in Indy 500 qualifying history, falling behind only the 236.986mph run by Arie Luyendyk in 1996 and Dixon’s 234.046mph in 2022. Dixon will be vying for his third consecutive pole start, a feat only achieved by three drivers in the history of the race.

The qualifying session on Saturday saw 84 attempts, which is a Day 1 record. Ed Carpenter just missed the top 12, while three Rahal Letterman Lanigan drivers, Christian Lundgaard, Jack Harvey, and Graham Rahal, will join Sting Ray Robb in last chance qualifying, with one of the four losing out and not making the race.

Katherine Legge secured the 30th position, the final guaranteed spot for the race, with a 231.070mph four-lap run, and she celebrated with her team members on pit road. The bottom four drivers at the end of Saturday’s qualifying were David Malukas, Jack Harvey, Sting Ray Robb, and Graham Rahal.

Fast Friday showed that Chip Ganassi Racing and