FORT WORTH, Texas—Qualifying for the DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway this afternoon was an exercise in frustration for A.J. Foyt’s ABC Supply Racing team.
Matheus Leist will start the 248-lap night time race from the 20th slot after posting a two-lap average speed of 215.093mph around the 1.5-mile banked oval.
“Tough day here at the track to be honest,” said the 20-year-old driver. “This place is very intimidating and when you don’t feel very comfortable in the car, it’s just harder and harder and harder. We’ve been struggling since practice and now qualifying was not very good. I’m just a little bit frustrated. We want to do good at this place and do good in front of the home crowd so we’ll work to have a better car for the race.”
Tony Kanaan, who will make his 369th start in an Indy car tomorrow evening did not post a time in qualifying. He brushed the wall on the exit of Turn 2 on his first hot lap and the car’s front and rear right side suspension was damaged. Kanaan will start 22nd.
“The car just wouldn’t turn and shot up the track which ended with me brushing the wall,” Kanaan explained. “We need to go back and look at the data to find out what happened. Tomorrow will be a long night for us if we don’t get this figured out for the race.”
Tony Kanaan and crew chief Mark Sampson view lap times after practice earlier today.
Takuma Sato won his ninth career pole with a speed of 220.250mph. Honda-powered cars swept the top four spots with Indianapolis 500 pole winner Simon Pagenaud qualifying fifth in his Chevrolet.
The race will be broadcast live tomorrow on NBC Sports Network starting at 8 p.m. ET.
