Kiwi Scott Dixon will start the final round of the Indycar Championship on the streets of St Petersburg in 11th place.
The Manurewa product had a disappointing qualifying session and will have some work to do on Monday morning NZT to secure his sixth career title.
He needs to finish ninth or better to secure the championship.
Helping Dixon’s cause was the fact his only title rival – American Josef Newgarden – could only qualify eighth and will almost certainly need to win the race to pip Dixon for the title.
“Our first qualifying session the car felt really good,” Dixon said. “I just didn’t really piece it together that well and then we kind of flip-flopped how we did it.
“The first run we dd three on black (hard compound) and four on red (soft compound). We thought the reds came in quick enough but just with how the traffic was, having to slow down, there was really only two laps.
“Each corner I was making the car was getting more grip, but I just needed another lap. It is what it is.
“Our mistake. I think I’m starting 11th and Josef is eighth, that definitely helps us a lot them not qualifying on pole and getting an extra point. If they’re not making the top three then we don’t have to do anything.”
Fellow New Zealander and three-time Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin qualified 21st.
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