Polesitter Simon Pagenaud hopes to parlay momentum into 500 win

An Indianapolis 500 win from pole would complete the racing journey for polesitter Simon Pageanaud.

"It would be a life achievement," he said. "I feel like I was born for this, born to race born to try to be the best a that I do. It would be a huge weight off my shoulders."

While the win would rended his career a sucess, Pagenaud noted that he wouldn't be ready to close the book yet.

 "It's absolutely my last box," he said. "Not that there won't be any more boxes afterword, but I have to think that way. I have to think that it will happen, that is the only way to go forward."

The pole follows a riveting performance in the rain to win the IndyCar Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course two weeks ago.

The win ended a 23-race losing streak for the Frenchman as he went winless and poleless in 2018 for the first time since 2014.  He struggled with the lower downforce package and finished midpack throughout the opening half of the year. He turned things around by season's end and finished no worse than sixth in the final three races.

Nonetheless, he and his Team Penske crew buckled down during the offseason determined to hit back harder.

"I've had full support from Team Penske, it's been pretty amazing to see how much they've wanted to help me back to where I want to be," he said. "It was my desire to get the car in a different spot. We've worked really hard with my teammates also and this year's been awesome.

That upswing continued into this season as he has amassed four top-tens with some come-from-behind performances at St. Petersburg and Barber to accompany his blistering win at the Indy GP.

Pagenaud feels that he is hitting his stride right where it matters.

"The first races – the stars didn't align, but now it's really aligning well for us. We're peaking at the right time."

Leading the field to the green flag presents The Frenchman with the perfect position to stay up front. Last year's race marked the first oval race of the Universal Aero Kit. That topped with the second highest race day temperatures on record made it a challenge for some when it came to passing.

The 12-time IndyCar race winner expects a different looking race and in confident about staying up front along with potentially fighting through the pack.

"I'm expecting a race much like we are used to seeing – a lot of passing between first and second," he said. "The draft is really powerful, very hard to hold the lead. I don't expect someone to leave the pack. It will be a lot of exchange of positions between first and second.

"I want to stay there I want to be able to take the lead whenever I want. I saw on Monday practice that we can come back from the middle of the pack. Last year it wasn't possible this year I feel that the package allows us to do that and the car is strong for that."