INDYCAR

Andretti Global puts its cars on the front row at Long Beach

Kirkwood takes pole position as Herta completes team double in qualifying

Photos : INDYCAR
2025/04/12
Long Beach

The Andretti Global team confirmed its historic dominance at the Long Beach street circuit by securing the front row for the 50th edition of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Kyle Kirkwood claimed pole position with a time of 1:06.1921 on his final qualifying lap on Saturday, while his teammate Colton Herta completed the 1-2 for the team with a time of 1:06.4232.

When you drive an Andretti Global car at Long Beach, you know you'll be fast. I'm shaking. It was such a good lap, such a good qualifying. Fortunately, I didn't put a wheel wrong or hit anything, which is always a question mark on street circuits. You have to risk it all to get that first position.

Photo By INDYCAR

Andretti Global shows its strength in California

The pole position of Kirkwood represents his first NTT P1 Award of the 2025 season and the third of his career. The driver of the No. 27 PreFab Honda had already secured pole at this same circuit in 2023, when he also won the race.

California native Colton Herta secured second place in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. This marks the first time Andretti Global has locked out the front row since last July's Honda Indy Toronto, when Herta took pole and Kirkwood qualified second. Herta also won that race.

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Palou and other contenders in the Fast Six

Alex Palou, current NTT INDYCAR series champion and championship leader after winning the first two races of the season, qualified third with a time of 1:06.6254 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Felix Rosenqvist took advantage of Christian Lundgaard's mishap to make the Firestone Fast Six and qualified fourth with 1:06.6358 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda for Meyer Shank Racing.

Marcus Ericsson was the third Andretti Global driver in the top five, qualifying fifth with a time of 1:06.7061 in the No. 28 Bryant Honda. Scott McLaughlin will share the third row with Ericsson after qualifying sixth with a time of 1:07.0393 in the No. 3 DEX Imaging Chevrolet for Team Penske.

Lundgaard misses his chance in the Fast Six

Christian Lundgaard, fourth in the championship standings, likely lost his spot in the Firestone Fast Six when he hit the tire barrier at Turn 6 during his final lap in the second qualifying segment.