Linus Lundqvist almost certainly will clinch the Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires driver’s championship this afternoon, but Andretti Autosport teammates Sting Ray Robb and Christian Rasmussen grabbed a bit of the spotlight during qualifying Saturday for the Indy Lights Grand Prix of Monterey doubleheader.
Robb won the pole for Race 1, with Rasmussen taking the top spot for Race 2 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the season-ending event. Both races are 35 laps, with Race 1 starting at 3:25 p.m. ET Saturday and Race 2 at 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Peacock Premium, INDYCAR Live! and the INDYCAR Radio Network will broadcast live.
SEE: Race 1 Qualifying Results | Race 2 Qualifying Results
Series veteran Robb earned his second pole this season with a top lap of 1 minute, 15.7209 in the No. 2 Sekady car during the first 12-minute session. Rasmussen locked out an all-Andretti Autosport front row for Race 1 with his best lap of 1:15.7976 in the No. 28 Road to Indy/Stellrecht car.
Lundqvist, who only needs to start the race today to win the series championship, will start fifth in the No. 26 HMD Motorsports with Dale Coyne Racing car after his best lap of 1:16.0549 on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile circuit.
Matthew Brabham, the only driver with a mathematical chance to catch Lundqvist, will start from the rear of the 13-car field due to a violation of the driver equivalency weight rule.
In qualifying for Race 2, series rookie Rasmussen drove to his first career Indy Lights pole with a best lap of 1:15.3618. Lundqvist will join him on the front row after a best lap of 1:15.3788 in the 12-minute session.