Home Road to IndyIndy Nxt Askew doubles up in Indy Lights qualifying at COTA

Askew doubles up in Indy Lights qualifying at COTA

by Ida Wood
Askew

Photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography

Oliver Askew took his third consecutive Indy Lights pole position to ensure he starts both races at the Circuit of the Americas from the front.

The Andretti Autosport driver’s advantage over his team-mates was narrowed from Friday’s first session, as he ended up leading Robert Megennis by 0.1758 seconds on the front row.

Ryan Norman, who will start in second for the opening race, was beaten to third place by Juncos Racing’s Rinus VeeKay by less than a tenth of the second.

BN Racing filled the third row, with Pro Mazda graduate David Malukas leading the team this time ahead of Team Pelfrey-supported Toby Sowery.

Championship leader Zachary Claman DeMelo did set a lap time in this session after sitting out the first, and although down in seventh was still the lead Belardi Auto Racing driver as his team-mates and Juncos’s Dalton Kellett were off the pace.

The first ever Indy Lights race at COTA, the current venue of the United States Grand Prix, takes place later on Saturday.

 

Qualifying results
Pos Name Team Time
1 Oliver Askew Andretti Autosport 1m54.6863s
2 Robert Megennis Andretti Autosport +0.1758s
3 Rinus VeeKay Juncos Racing +0.4011s
4 Ryan Norman Andretti Autosport +0.4795s
5 David Malukas BN Racing +0.5691s
6 Toby Sowery BN Racing/Team Pelfrey +0.9525s
7 Zachary Claman DeMelo Belardi Auto Racing +1.3285s
8 Dalton Kellett Juncos Racing +2.0091s
9 Julien Falchero Belardi Auto Racing +2.1875s
10 Lucas Kohl Belardi Auto Racing +2.3442s