Indianapolis (United States) (AFP)

The American Marco Andretti has done everything to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious grandfather Mario, winner of the 500 miles of Indianapolis in 1969, since he will start from pole position in the legendary race next Sunday, hoping to add his first name on the charts.

Within two months, he was not yet born, when Mario Andretti won the third and last pole of his glorious career in 1987. He will also learn much later that starting at the top of Indy has never resulted in a victory for his grandfather, since it was by starting from 2nd position that he won his only title in 1969.

But why, after all, deprive yourself of doing things right?

"It's fantastic, incredible. He never took his foot off the accelerator. He drove devilishly," enthusiastic his father Michael, owner of the team that bears their name (Andretti Autosport) and who failed to earn the 500 Miles in sixteen starts.

Marco Andretti, who had already dominated in recent days the free practice prior to this "Fast 9" bringing together the nine fastest drivers of the first day of qualifying on Saturday, completed his four laps at an average of 371.758 km / h (231.068 miles / h).

When it was time to hit the track in Indianapolis on Sunday, a few words from Mario, 80, fell in his ear: "I thought of him because when I got out of the motorhome, it was very windy. . He has this phrase that few people know but which is recurrent with us: + The wind will scare you, but it will never crush you. + Today, he was right. It was rather brilliant. "

The weight of history did not weigh too much on the shoulders of the one who won only two Grands Prix in fifteen IndyCar seasons and whose best ranking in Indianapolis was a 2nd place for his first time in 2006. , already in a single-seater bearing his name.

- Dixon just behind -

He nevertheless had to fight not to leave the pole to New Zealander Scott Dixon, who also completed his four laps at an average of 371.758 km / h, but barely slower in miles / h (231.051).

"It's crazy how a little gust of wind can change things. But I'm really happy for Marco, he deserves it", commented, fair play, Dixon winner of the event in 2008.

"I know what this pole means for his family and him, it is very much how he resisted the pressure. But I hope to be able to reverse our positions in a week," he added.

Behind them, the Japanese Takuma Sato, crowned in 2017, set the third fastest time, very happy with his performance. "What a fantastic feeling, going on the front lines at Indy, it doesn't get much better."

He deprived of nothing the rookie Rinus VeeKay, the only representative of Chevrolet against eight Hondas, to know this unique feeling. Beside him Ryan Hunter-Reay (5th) and James Hinchliffe (6th) will start in the 2nd row.

Alex Palou (7th), Graham Rahal (8th) and Alexander Rossi (9th) will start in 3rd row.

- Pagenaud and Alonso far behind -

Far from them, Simon Pagenaud, title holder at Indianapolis, was not concerned by this "Fast 9", after having lacked speed during the first phase of qualifying.

Author of 25th time, he will only start from the 9th row, just ahead of Fernando Alonso whose McLaren hit the wall on Thursday and who also sorely lacked speed.

His teammates at Penske were no more at the party. Josef Newgarden, reigning IndyCar champion and looking for a first coronation in Indianapolis, clocked 13th, Will Power finished 21st and Helio Castroneves 28th.

© 2020 AFP