Whereas Rosenqvist was capable of the lead opening lap, which began underneath warning on account of a Race Management concern. As soon as the inexperienced flag got here out on lap 2 of 85, although he rapidly misplaced the highest spot to fellow entrance row starter Will Energy, who surged by with an outdoor transfer into Flip 1 within the No. 12 Group Penske Chevrolet.
It proved to mark the start of a downward slide because the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda rapidly fell to fourth by lap 5 after which sixth simply three laps later.
The Swede stayed out on observe regardless of the warning popping out on lap 15, staying the course with the conservative technique and pitting on laps 29 and 59. In the long run, he was by no means capable of get well the misplaced observe place and he was left to complete ninth on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn non permanent road circuit.
“The opening phase is the place we primarily misplaced the race,” Rosenqvist mentioned.
“We had some points with the brakes: they have been operating actually scorching, so I used to be actually off on my bias and needed to chase it. We actually lacked braking efficiency, which meant I saved getting handed in Flip 1, inside and outdoors. With out braking confidence, you’ll be able to’t shield, and you may’t go ahead.
“However the staff did effectively regardless of that, we saved our heads cool – though it sucked to go plummeting down the sector.”
With two entrance row begins and two high 10 leads to the opening two points-paying races to begin the season, Rosenqvist sits seventh within the championship standings, 37 factors behind chief Josef Newgarden.
“We’re trying on the large image and a high 10 consequence for the staff remains to be actually nice for us,” mentioned Rosenqivst, who additionally completed third within the non-points occasion at The Thermal Membership final month.
“After all, we might have preferred to translate the pole right into a win, however that is good momentum for everybody.”
Now, the eye shifts to the upcoming weekend’s spherical at Barber Motorsports Park, a observe that Rosenqvist has two high 10 leads to 4 begins.
“We examined there a few weeks in the past, which is useful,” Rosenqvist mentioned. “It’s good to have that underneath your belt going into the race weekend the place many of the groups haven’t.
“I nonetheless assume it’s a observe that we identified that we wish to work on. I really feel fairly good about it, I’m not 100% that our package deal will probably be as robust because it was right here, however I believe now we have a superb baseline to work with.
“First highway course of the season and I’m excited to see how the automotive goes to really feel.”
