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Arrow McLAREN Grand Prix at Road America: Qualifying Report

"We'll have to work hard and see what we can do tomorrow to make our way forward."

Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team logo

First it was wind, then it was rain. 

Qualifying day here in Road America was a wet and wild ride, and we're happy to report all Arrow McLaren cars are safely stowed away, ready for Sunday's big show. 

It was a strong start to today's qualifying session, as Alexander Rossi and Pato O'Ward advanced with ease out the first group, finishing P1 and P5, respectively. Théo Pourchaire finished his group in P9 and will start 18th in Sunday's race. 

Changing track conditions during the session proved to be tricky for all, with both Alexander Rossi and Pato O'Ward missing out on the Fast Six in the end. The No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet will start ninth and the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in eleventh.

Sunday's Grand Prix at Road America will be live on NBC at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Read what the drivers and Team Principal Gavin Ward said following Saturday's qualifying session.

Race Date Sunday, June 9
Round 7 of 17
Total Laps 55 Laps
Total Race Distance 220.55 miles / 354.94 km
Length 4.0 miles / 6.44 km
Number of Turns 14
Alexander Rossi
Practice 2 8th 2:12.3315 8 Laps
Qualifying - Round 1, Group 1 1st 2:00.9811  
Qualifying - Round 2 9th 2:00.9035  
Qualifying Position 9th    

"The track was getting drier as the session went on, but it certainly didn't dry as quickly as any of us expected. I think we just missed the balance a little bit as it dried up. We were a really strong car when it was properly wet. We didn't have the overall balance that we needed, but regardless, it was a really good job by the No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet team. These sort of sessions are always tricky. We can fight from P9, and we'll see what we can learn in warm up because we certainly have a lot of work to do."

Pato O'Ward
Practice 2 24th 16:47.8941 6 Laps
Qualifying - Round 1, Group 2 5th 2:01.2712  
Qualifying - Round 2 11th 2:01.5141  
Qualifying Position 11th    

"It was a slippery day today, both in practice and qualifying. I thought we had a little bit more pace to find, maybe even enough for the Firestone Fast 6. We just got stuck there a little bit in Round 2 and couldn't really get what we needed from the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. We'll have to work hard and see what we can do tomorrow to make our way forward."

Théo Pourchaire
Practice 2 9th 2:12.5088 8 Laps
Qualifying - Round 1, Group 1 9th 2:02.1745  
Qualifying Position 18th    

"I'm disappointed because I feel like I had the pace today to possibly make my first Firestone Fast 6. We had a few issues, and that's tough because the No. 6 onsemi Arrow McLaren Chevrolet was great in those conditions. It will be difficult to start so far back on this track, but we have the race tomorrow to move forward. I'm still learning, but I think I drove pretty well. We just need to communicate better and we will get the results we're looking for."

Gavin Ward, Team Principal, Arrow McLaren, said:

"Obviously, the conditions were tricky out there. I don't think we quite maximized our potential, but at the end of the day, we can race from where we are. There are plenty of good cars that are starting around where we are. We'll focus on the long game and the championship."

Session Times

Warmup Sunday, June 9 12:15 - 12:45 p.m. ET Peacock
Tune In Sunday, June 9 3:30 p.m. ET NBC
Green Flag Sunday, June 9 3:45 p.m. ET  NBC