Leist Sets Indy Lights Track Record To Capture Freedom 100 Pole

Matheus Leist won the pole for the Freedom 100 – his first career oval race – with an Indy Lights track-record average speed of 199.198 mph Thursday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Leist, from Novo Hamburgo, Brazil, blasted the previous record of 197.684 for a two-lap average speed set by Ethan Ringel in 2015.

“It feels amazing,” Leist said. “I’m very happy. The team gave me a very nice car, and I felt confident driving it.

“I’m still getting used to the tracks and car. Now I have my first pole. Hopefully tomorrow I can get my first win.”

The Freedom 100, a 40-lap race, starts at 12:30 p.m. (ET) Friday on the 2.5-mile oval and will be televised live on the NBC Sports Network.

Leist wasted no time adapting to driving on an oval in the first practice, the start of which was delayed seven and one-half hours due to persistent morning and early-afternoon rain. He led the session at 201.032 in the No. 26 TMA entry fielded by Carlin, benefiting from an aerodynamic tow.

He carried that speed from the only practice into single-car qualifying, winning the pole with ease.

Colton Herta will start second after a two-lap average of 198.648 in the No. 98 Deltro Energy Mazda entry. Dalton Kellett qualified third at 198.011 in the No. 28 K-Line Insulators USA, Inc. Mazda, while Ryan Norman rounds out the second row after qualifying fourth at 197.697 in the No. 48 Flip Side Mazda/Aggressive Sound Mazda.

The top four qualifiers each broke Ringel’s 2-year-old track record.

Series points leader Kyle Kaiser will start 11th in the 14-car field after struggling in qualifying with a two-lap average of 196.058 in the No. 18 entry fielded by Juncos Racing.