Power was the ninth of 34 drivers to go out on track vying to make the field of 33 and began his march with an electrifying 234.030mph opening lap. By the time he completed all four of his laps around the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he rolled to an average speed of 233.758mph to take the top spot. “I wouldn't have trimmed any more than that,” said Power, the 2018 Indy 500 winner. Scott McLaughlin furthered Penske’s stranglehold at the sharp end of the field after a 233.
“I put ourselves in this position with my crash and the team has been amazing rebuilding and a new car and working so hard all day to get me out for new runs. But it’s very tough.” Of note, there were issues that occurred and interrupted the promising late runs of several drivers, including Conor Daly , rookie Christian Rasmussen and Agustin Canapino , among others.