“I’m a bit disappointed, obviously being sixth in the Fast Six. The conditions were tricky out there with the runway strips and the paint. We just didn’t get the most out of it. We had a big moment in Turn 1 at the end [of the session] and came up a few tenths short. It’s a tricky day again – I’m sure there will be more of them. I guess if we’re this disappointed being in the Fast Six it’s not a horrible day. I feel bad for my teammates Marco and Alex getting penalized like that, but we’ll see what tomorrow has in store for the DHL Honda.”
- STARTING POSITION: 6th
- QUALIFYING TIME: 1:02.0385
- OF NOTE: Competed in the first Firestone Fast Six of the season to secure a top-six starting position on the streets of St. Petersburg. Holds four podium finishes on the streets of St. Petersburg.
The checkered flag has flown over a controversial qualifying session at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Despite having the speed to advance, both Marco Andretti and Alexander Rossi were issued penalties for qualifying interference, negating their fast times and dropping the two veteran drivers from advancing. As a result of Rossi’s penalty, Ryan Hunter-Reay and the DHL team advanced to the Firestone Fast Six and sat in sixth place with the checkered flag. Rookie Zach Veach had a strong first qualifying stint and ended the day with a time good enough for 15th on the grid.
The field of 24 will take the green flag for 110 laps of street racing Sunday with live broadcast on ABC at 12:30 p.m. ET. The 2018 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Pete marks the 200th Indy car race start for Andretti Autosport as a team.
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