Scott Dixon Wins Indianapolis 500 Pole With Record-Breaking Final Run

Scott Dixon didn’t need any more records to cement his racing legacy.

But the six-time IndyCar champion had other ideas when he arrived at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for qualifying on Sunday.

The 41-year-old Dixon set an Indianapolis 500 pole-winning record with a four-lap average speed of 234.046 mph around the famed 2.5-mile racetrack.

Scott Brayton set the record in 1996 with an average speed of 233.718 mph. Arie Luyendyk’s qualifying record of 236.986 mph in 1996 still stands, but that run wasn’t for the pole position. So, Dixon’s 2022 run stands as the fastest pole-winning run and second-fastest qualifying run in the 106-year history of the legendary race.

Dixon has now started on the pole five times at the Indy 500 (2008, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022). He hasn’t quite had the luck on race day, with his lone victory coming back in 2008. Winning a second Indy 500 would put him in an exclusive group that includes just 20 other drivers.

Chip Ganassi Racing has had pace since arriving in Indianapolis for testing, with Dixon leading three practice sessions and placing all five entries – including Indy 500 rookie Jimmie Johnson – in the top-12 for qualifying.

Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, has transitioned to IndyCar since retiring from NASCAR in 2020 and will make his Indy 500 debut from the 12th starting spot. He won NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis four times in his career, so he’s familiar with the track.

The Indianapolis 500 is set for next Sunday, May 29, at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Leigh Diffey (play-by-play), Townsend Bell (analysis) and James Hinchcliffe (analysis) will call the race after lengthy pre-race coverage from Mike Tirico, Danica Patrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr., which begins at 11 a.m. ET.

Final practice sessions will take place on Monday at 1 p.m. ET and Friday at 11 a.m. ET, both on Peacock.

Here’s a look at the full starting lineup for the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500:

1. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing
2. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
3. Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing
4. Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing
5. Marcus Ericsson, Chip Ganassi Racing
6. Tony Kanaan, Chip Ganassi Racing
7. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP
8. Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren SP
9. Romain Grosjean, Andretti Autosport
10. Takuma Sato, Dale Coyne Racing with RWR
11. Will Power, Team Penske
12. Jimmie Johnson Chip Ganassi Racing
13. David Malukas, Dale Coyne Racing with HMD
14. Josef Newgarden, Team Penske
15. Santino Ferrucci, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
16. Simon Pagenaud, Meyer Shank Racing
17. J.R. Hildebrand, A.J. Foyt Enterprises
18. Conor Daly, Ed Carpenter Racing
19. Callum Ilott, Juncos Hollinger Racing
20. Alexander Rossi, Andretti Autosport
21. Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
22. Sage Karam, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
23. Marco Andretto, Andretti Herta Autosport with Marco Curb
24. Devlin DeFrancesco, Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport
25. Colton Herta, Andretti Autosport
26. Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske
27. Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing
28. Kyle Kirkwood, A.J. Foyt Enterprises
29. Dalton Kellett, A.J. Foyt Enterprises
30. Juan Pablo Montoya, Arrow McLaren SP
31. Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
32. Jack Harvey, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
33. Stefan Wilson, DragonSpeed/Cusick Motorsports