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Honda Shines In Indianapolis 500 First-Round Qualifying With Kyle Kirkwood At The Forefront
Kyle Kirkwood secured the fifth position in the first-round qualifying for next Sunday's 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Representing Honda, Kirkwood posted one of the three fastest four-lap average speeds among Honda drivers, advancing to the final qualifying rounds. Alongside him, Felix Rosenqvist and Takuma Sato also progressed to the final round.
Rosenqvist, driving for Meyer Shank Racing, achieved the seventh-fastest qualifying run. Meanwhile, two-time race winner Sato, representing Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, secured the ninth position. The first-round qualifying determined the initial 30 drivers for the 33-car field.
Qualifying action continues Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The "Fast 12" second-round qualifying will be followed by "Last Chance Qualifying" to determine the final starting row of three. The "Fast Six" final qualifying will set the pole position for next weekend's race.
| Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 5th | Kyle Kirkwood | Andretti Global Honda |
| 7th | Felix Rosenqvist | Meyer Shank Racing Honda |
| 9th | Takuma Sato-W | Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda |
Locked into the Indianapolis 500
| Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 13th | Colton Herta | Andretti Global Honda |
| 14th | Alex Palou | Chip Ganassi Racing Honda |
Kyle Kirkwood expressed optimism about his performance, stating, "I think there actually is more speed left in the car. We were on the conservative side. We could have been a little bit more aggressive." He added that his team would review data to improve their performance in Sunday's Fast 12 final qualifying.
Felix Rosenqvist was satisfied with his run, saying, "I think honestly we landed where we wanted. We wanted to be near [Kyle] Kirkwood given our [qualifying order] draw, so we're good." He praised team owner Mike Shank for his efforts and noted that the car had a balanced feel during qualifying.
Honda's Legacy at Indianapolis 500
Honda has a distinguished history at the Indianapolis 500, boasting more victories than any other major automaker. Since entering INDYCAR competition in 1994, Honda has secured 15 wins from 23 races, achieving a win ratio of 65%. The manufacturer's first victory came in its fourth attempt when Buddy Rice won in 2004 with Rahal Letterman Racing.
The most recent triumph for Honda was in 2022 when Marcus Ericsson of Chip Ganassi Racing clinched victory. This marked Honda's third consecutive win at Indianapolis.
Where to Watch Sunday's Final Qualifying
The final qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 will be broadcast live on NBC and NBC Peacock. Coverage begins at 12 p.m. ET with practice sessions on NBC Peacock, followed by Fast 12 and last-row qualifying on NBC starting at 3 p.m. ET.
For more updates and content from Honda Racing and HRC US, follow their social media channels on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
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