Home News Sulaiman doubles up in IP2000 Road America qualifying with late flier

Sulaiman doubles up in IP2000 Road America qualifying with late flier

by Peter Allen

Photo: Gavin Baker/Road to Indy

Manuel Sulaiman claimed another Road America pole position with a last-gasp effort in the second Indy Pro 2000 qualifying session of the weekend.

Juncos Racing driver Sulaiman was not in the fight for pole until his final attempt, with top spot instead being traded between Braden Eves and Jacob Abel for most of the final six minutes.

Inside the last minute, Artem Petrov, Eves and Reece Gold all took turns in first place before Christian Rasmussen went nearly three tenths of a second clear just prior to the chequered flag.

It looked as though that time would be unbeatable on the final flying laps, only for Sulaiman to better it by over three tenths of a second.

Gold could also beat Rasmussen’s time to make it a Juncos one-two, with Abel splitting championship contenders Rasmussen and Eves to take fourth. Petrov wound up sixth.

Qualifying results
Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1 Manuel Sulaiman Juncos Racing 2m03.4545s 6
2 Reece Gold Juncos Racing 2m03.6954s +0.2409s 7
3 Christian Rasmussen Jay Howard Driver Development 2m03.7714s +0.3169s 6
4 Jacob Abel Abel Motorsports 2m04.0287s +0.5742s 7
5 Braden Eves Exclusive Autosport 2m04.0587s +0.6042s 8
6 Artem Petrov Exclusive Autosport 2m04.0959s +0.6414s 8
7 Wyatt Brichacek Jay Howard Driver Development 2m04.2854s +0.8309s 8
8 Kyffin Simpson Juncos Racing 2m04.4649s +1.0104s 6
9 Hunter McElrea Pabst Racing 2m04.4683s +1.0138s 7
10 Hunter Yeany Velocity Racing Development 2m04.6018s +1.1473s 6
11 Jack William Miller Miller Vinatieri Motorsports 2m04.6554s +1.2009s 7
12 James Roe Turn 3 Motorsport 2m04.8529s +1.3984s 8