INDY NXT QUALIFYING REPORT: GRAND PRIX OF ARLINGTON

No. 26 Andretti Global Dallara

• After a strong practice session this morning that saw Hughes round out the top three quickest lap times, the Australian driver took on Qualifying this afternoon in Group 2.
• Although he started the session near the top of the leaderboard, Hughes struggled to find more pace in the car and ended the day with the fourth-quickest lap in his group and eighth overall.

“It was not the best quali. We just didn’t really put it together. There was a lot more potential there, but it was quite hard to piece it all together. We were on for a really good lap, probably for pole, when the red flag came out. It’s a bit of a shame that happened, and then we struggled to switch it back on after the red flag. But it looks like a good track for overtaking, so we’ll see what we have tomorrow.”

Seb Murray

No. 27 Prosperity Dallara

• Seb Murray was the only driver in the Andretti INDY NXT stable to take on Qualifying this afternoon in Group 1 after a positive practice session this morning saw him record the second-fastest lap.
• Despite his strong start to the day, Murray couldn’t manage to get more out of the car in qualifying to move him up the leaderboard. He will take the green from the sixth row.

“Not the best quali. We just didn’t really put it together. We had a lot more potential, and we were on for a really good lap, probably for pole, when the red flag came out. It’s a bit of a shame that happened, but I just struggled to switch it on after that. It looks like a good track for overtaking, so we’ll see what we have tomorrow.”

No. 28 Susan G. Komen Dallara

• After leading both INDY NXT practice sessions this weekend in Arlington with impressive speed, Max Taylor made his qualifying attempt in Group 2 this afternoon.
• Taylor led Group 2 for the majority of the qualifying session, but as the session was closing, Taylor couldn’t find the pace to bump into the pole position. He ultimately secured the fourth-fastest lap, placing the No. 28 Susan G. Komen Dallara on the second row for tomorrow’s race.

“That was a bit of a rough quali today. We just didn’t seem to find the rhythm and the pace there. Ended P2 in my group, which will be fourth for the start of the race. So, we’ll still fight from there and hopefully go for the win. We need to just debrief, look at the data, see what went wrong and where we lost our pace. We’re working hard, and we still have a whole race ahead of us.”

No. 29 Starchive Dallara

• Josh Pierson joined teammates Hughes and Taylor in Group 2 this afternoon in Qualifying on the Streets of Arlington. Like his teammates, Pierson struggled to find the ultimate, strong flying lap, locking in a final fast-lap time outside of the top 10.
• Pierson will join teammate Murray in Row 6 tomorrow for the debut race, both aiming to capitalize on race-day strategy to climb the leaderboard.

“It wasn’t the most ideal qualifying. We had so much pace as a team in Practice 1 and Practice 2, but I just wasn’t able to find it and have felt like I’ve been on the back foot since Practice 1. I’m really struggling to figure out the circuit, and it has been really challenging for me. There’s definitely still a lot to improve on and more speed out there. The Andretti Global team and the No. 29 crew have done a fantastic job, so it’s up to me to put it together. I just don’t feel like I executed.”

“It was a decent day. We expected a little bit more with Max being the fastest all weekend, but it was still a solid qualifying. We have really good cars, and this is a new track, so we’ll go back and look at everything, see what we can improve for tomorrow, and be ready to race.”