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England's Katherine Legge qualified for the Indianapolis 500 for the third time on Saturday, while Felix Rosenqvist led the McLaren charge by posting the fastest four-lap average at the Brickyard.
Rosenqvist's late afternoon run of 233.947 mph was the third fastest four-lap qualifying effort in the history of race, bumping new teammate Alexander Rossi from the top spot — a position he'd held nearly six hours.
'It was pretty mind blowing how we found so much speed,' Rosenqvist said. 'What a run. Just a fun time to be in an Arrow McLaren. We are definitely looking good right now.'
Legge, the only Rahal Letterman driver to qualify on Saturday, was disappointed to start in 30th, but still described herself as relieved afterwards to reach her first Indy 500 since 2013.
'Honestly, now, it's just like relief,' she told NBC. 'You go through single every emotion on qualifying day.'
England's Katherine Legge qualified for the Indianapolis 500 for the third time on Saturday
Felix Rosenqvist led the McLaren charge by posting the fastest four-lap average time
When the gun fired to signal the end of the day, all four McLaren drivers were inside the top 12 and advanced into Sunday's shootout for the pole.
Ganassi also landed all four of its drivers inside the top 12, but as the clock ticked down, defending race winner Marcus Ericsson stood on pit lane unsure if he should make another qualifying attempt.
In a wild day at the Brickyard, Scott Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Alex Palou made late engine swaps before the start of Indy 500 qualifying, while Callum Ilott made it onto the track after his Juncos Hollinger Racing team was forced to put together a backup car in just over 12 hours.
Somehow, things worked out well for all of them.
Dixon went out early and put his car in the fast 12 that will run for the pole Sunday with his four-lap average of 233.375 mph, then he watched Palou join him with an average of 233.398. In fact, all four Ganassi drivers made the shootout with defending Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson and two-time winner Takuma Sato also there.
'Absolutely pleased with that,' Palou said. 'The car was really fast yesterday, really fast this morning with the engine change. Kudos to the No. 10 car crew that stayed late and put it all together.'
English drivers Jack Harvey and Katherine Legge talk during Saturday's qualifying
Dixon indicated at the conclusion of Friday's final practice that something was amiss, even though the Honda cars in the Ganassi garage had been fast all week. But it was a surprise that both Dixon and Palou wound up changing engines, leaving each of them just 30 minutes of practice before they began
