Mars Ends MMR’s Four-Race Pole Streak

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge points leader Luca Mars stormed to pole position for this afternoon’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway 120.

Mars, in the No. 28 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, reeled off a chart-topping 1:29.679 to end a four-race pole streak by the No. 13 McCumbee McAleer Racing Ford Mustang GT4, which qualified second in the hands of Nate Cicero.

It marked Mars’ second pole of the season after taking top qualifying honors at the season-opening BMW M Endurance Challenge at Daytona International Speedway in January.

He’ll share the championship-leading Porsche with Jan Heylen in the two-hour race, which marks the second-to-last race of the season.

Ford Koch pedaled his No. 23 Copeland Motorsports Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 to the third quickest time, with Jake Walker and Paul Holton completing the top-five for Turner Motorsport and Team TGM, respectively.

Eric Powell, meanwhile, gave CUPRA its maiden pole position in IMSA competition, taking the No. 99 Victor Gonzalez Racing Leon VZ TCR to top qualifying honors in TCR.

Powell’s 1:31.413 was more than three-tenths quicker than IMSA Diverse Driver Development scholarship winner Celso Neto in the No. 7 Precision Racing LA Audi RS 3 LMS TCR, who qualified second.

The No. 93 MMG Honda Civic FL5 TCR of championship contender LP Montour will roll off third in class.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway 120 will begin at 12:45 p.m. EST with live coverage on Peacock and IMSA’s YouTube channel, commercial-free courtesy of Michelin.

RESULTS: Qualifying

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John