Team Penske Verizon IndyCar Series Practice and Qualifying Report

August 18, 2018


Track:                  Pocono Raceway
Race:                   Pocono 500
Date:                   August 18, 2018
 
No. 1 Hitachi Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet – Josef Newgarden
Practice 1
Position
:                            2nd
Time / Speed:                   41.4716 / 217.016 mph     
 
Qualifying
Position:                            2nd
Total Time / Speed:        1:22.2663 / 218.802 mph
 
No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet – Will Power
Practice 1
Position
:                            11th
Time / Speed:                   41.8786 / 219.907 mph     
 
Qualifying
Position:                            1st
Total Time / Speed:         1:22.0006 / 219.511 mph
 
No. 22 Shell/Chevrolet Marketplace Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet – Simon Pagenaud
Practice 1
Position
:                            7th
Time / Speed:                   41.8049/ 215.286 mph     
 
Qualifying
Position:                            5th
Time / Speed:                   1:22.6564 / 217.769 mph
 
Fastest Time:                   41.3997 (No. 26 – Zach Veach) – Practice 1
1:22.0006 (No. 12 – Will Power – Total Time) – Qualifying
 
Notes:

  • It was a historic day in Will Power's career as he and the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet captured his 53rd career pole – tying him for second with AJ Foyt on the all-time poles list. His strong performance is qualifying and practice demonstrates Power's prowess at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Penn. – where he has won the last two INDYCAR events. Josef Newgarden and the No. 1 Hitachi Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet found great speed by qualifying second with an average speed of 218.802 mph – just behind Power's 219.511 mph. Simon Pagenaud and the No. 22 Shell/Chevrolet Marketplace Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet had both a strong qualifying effort and run in first practice. Qualifying fifth for Sunday's race with an average speed of 217.769 mph, Pagenaud seeks a strong run in the Sunday afternoon race. Unfortunately, the teams were only able to take advantage of the first practice session as the second session was cancelled due to inclement weather. Both Power and Newgarden are looking for strong runs in Sunday's race to earn valuable points as they both continue to battle for the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series championship.

 
Coverage:
The Verizon IndyCar Series race at Pocono Raceway will air on Sunday, August 19 at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.