Rossi returns from injury, aims for better results | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

MADISON, Illinois – Alexander Rossi will return to the IndyCar racing series this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis.

He hopes this will be a memorable end to his time at Arrow McLaren.

Rossi has been sidelined since breaking his thumb in a practice crash on the streets of Toronto last month, but he has been given the green light to get back in the car for Saturday night's oval race. It's the start of a post-Olympic final push for the series, which has five races remaining, with the finale taking place at Nashville Superspeedway on September 15.

“It's been a long summer break but it obviously came at the right time for me after my injury in Toronto,” said Rossi, who started Friday's race in 15th place but is moving up the grid due to penalties affecting other teams. “I'm excited to be back in the car in St. Louis and I'm looking forward to starting this final stage on a positive note.”

By a strange coincidence, Rossi was busy testing for Arrow McLaren at the track formerly known as Gateway last month when news leaked that the former Indy 500 winner would be replaced by Christian Lundgaard next season. Rossi joined the team last season but struggled greatly, finishing on the podium just twice while driving for the team.

“We are delighted that Alexander has been given the green light to return to racing this weekend,” said Gavin Ward, Team Principal of Arrow McLaren. “Let's hope that this streak of good fortune is the gateway to further success.”

QUALIFICATION OVERVIEW

Scott McLaughlin qualified on the pole for the second consecutive day outside St. Louis on Friday with a two-lap average of 179.972 mph, putting Team Penske's three cars in the top six starting spots. Josef Newgarden was fourth and Will Power fifth.

“The guys gave me a great car right off the truck today,” McLaughlin said.

Felix Rosenqvist was second before a grid penalty dropped him out of the top 10, leaving his Meyer Shank Racing teammate David Malukas in second. The penalty also means Newgarden and Power will start side by side on row 2.

“We've been fast on the ovals this year, which is great,” said Mike Shank, co-owner of Meyer Shank Racing. “I'm super proud of our result today.”

Rosenqvist, Alex Palou, Scott Dixon and Katherine Legge were demoted nine places on the grid on Friday for exceeding the number of engines allowed this season. Teams are allowed four engines per competitor. The four Honda teams swapped their engines after Toronto in order to have fresh engines available for the final five races.

POINT SITUATION

Palou has a comfortable lead in the points race with three wins and three other podium finishes this season, putting him in a position to win a second consecutive IndyCar title and the third in four years for Chip Ganassi Racing. But behind him in the standings it is much closer: 12 points separate second-place Power from fourth-place Colton Herta.

Herta just won in Toronto, but the best driver in the series is probably Dixon, who is third in the standings. He has been in the top five in three consecutive races and led the race in Toronto before finishing third.

JUNCOS CHANGES

IndyCar veteran Conor Daly will drive the No. 78 car for Juncos Hollinger Racing for the remainder of the season, taking over for Augustin Canapino, who parted ways with the team last week following a series of social media outcry.

It's the third team Daly has driven for this season. He finished 10th in the Indianapolis 500 for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and replaced the injured Jack Harvey for Dale Coyne Racing at Iowa in July. But there's also a familiarity, as Daly drove in the Star Mazda Championship Series for team owner Ricardo Juncos in 2010.

“I think we have a great chance to compete,” Daly said. “I think this team is viewed as an underdog, but I think there's a lot of great things happening in this racing stable and with this group. It's a very exciting opportunity.”