Laguna Seca (United States) (AFP)

The French Simon Pagenaud (Penske) will start 6th in the Monterey Grand Prix, the 17th and last round of the IndyCar Championship, which he will have to win to hope to be crowned Sunday for the second time after 2016.

It's a rookie of 19 years, the American Colton Herta (Harding Steinbrenner), relieved of any pressure because not concerned by the fight for the title, who has achieved the best time (1 min 10 sec 1405 / 10000th) of " Fast Six ". Whoever will ride next season for the Andretti team will start in pole position.

His compatriot Josef Newgarden (Penske), leader in the general classification and favorite to win the championship, will start him in 4th position (1 min 10 sec 6719: 1000th), so on the same line as Pagenaud (1 min 10 sec 8616 / 1000e) .

In front of them, on the front row, are the two other contenders for the title of IndyCar champion: New Zealander Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi) and American Alexander Rossi (Andretti), who will start respectively in 2nd and 3rd place.

To hope to be champion, Pagenaud, winner in May of the prestigious 500 miles of Indianapolis, will win Sunday and hope that Newgarden does not finish better than fifth. Otherwise, the American will be sacred.

Same scenario imposed on Rossi, who is only one point ahead of Pagenaud in the general classification. For Dixon, still mathematically racing, it will however a miracle, but this qualifying session proved that he still believed.

Pagenaud also believes in his star, he who has experienced two very difficult qualifying sessions, snatching his ticket for the Fast Six of nothing, after being out of the track a few moments earlier.

"I lost a little control of the car on the entrances of turns," explained after the 35-year-old Poitevin, who took risks to improve his lap.

"It was the moment to give the maximum and I did it, no regrets, I think we can go in. We'll see," he added.

The other Frenchie of the IndyCar, Sebastien Bourdais will leave him from the penultimate line, in 19th position. The day before, he had shortened his free practice because of neck pain.

© 2019 AFP