Scott Dixon. Photo: Photosport
New Zealand's Scott Dixon will start fourth on the grid for the Indianapolis 500, while Scott McLaughlin walked away from a big crash and will line-up tenth.
Russian/Israeli driver Robert Shwartzman took pole, the first rookie in 43 years to sit at the top of the grid.
Scott Dixon will start from fourth on the grid for the Indy 500. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Shwartzman won the Formula Regional Oceania Championship here in 2018.
Dixon made the final shootout for pole, but he was pipped by Shwartzman, Takuma Sato of Japan and Pato O'Ward of Mexico.
Dixon, a five time pole winner at the Indy 500, is chasing his second Indy title after winning in 2008.
However, fellow New Zealander McLaughlin, last year's pole-sitter, did not make the shoot-out after his spectacular crash.
Scott McLaughlin wasn't injured in the big crash. Photo: Photosport
The Team Penske driver hit the wall at speed 16 minutes into the one-hour session practice session before final qualifying.
McLaughlin, who finished third in the 2024 race, had recorded the fastest lap of the session before spinning his car in turn two and crashing hard into the barrier.
The car was airborne for a moment and suffered extensive damage.
"I'm really, really, really, really sorry to everyone at Team Penske, my guys on the 3 car, everyone who builds these fantastic cars," McLaughlin said.
"It (car) was talking to me, and I sort of felt it, and I probably should have backed out. But you're trying to complete a run to see what it feels like.
"Very grateful to IndyCar, the safety and my team, the SAFER Barriers and all that. Kept me safe. We had a great car, and I just destroyed it."
The third New Zealander in the field, Marcus Armstrong was forced to take part in the 'last chance' shoot-out and secured the 32nd pot in the 33-strong field.
The 109th Indianapolis 500 is at 4am Monday 26 May (NZ time).
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