He’s spent the last two weekends being attacked by walls and most of this season having ‘lady luck’ laugh in his face, but now, Louis Foster has something tangible to show for his IndyCar efforts this season.
The 21-year-old and reigning IndyCar feeder series champion Foster took an absolutely mighty pole position on one of the championship’s - and continent’s! - toughest road courses at Road America.
“We had a really fast car, then I thought qualifying was going to be only against people on new tyres,” said a surprised Alex Palou, who will start next to Foster on the front row and creates an all-reigning champion duo with Indy NXT title-holder Foster and 2024 IndyCar champion, Palou.
“I think Louis did it on used tires, right? Yeah, I wasn't counting on that. He did an amazing job.”
Foster scraped through the first segment of qualifying by 0.056s, reckoned he messed up his one shot at the Fast 12 but still made it through, and then beat Palou and Kyle Kirkwood - the only race winners in eight IndyCar races this year - to pole on the used softs when they had a fresh set.
Congratulations to @_LouisFoster on his first career NTT @IndyCar Series pole! He will lead the field to green Sunday at Road America. pic.twitter.com/siiQV51c3S
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) June 21, 2025
In terms of an against-the-odds pole goes, this was absolutely massive given the competition and the odds against him.
The only reasonable explanation for the result is that finally having his Mansell-esque moustache shaved off for charity - by Dario Franchitti no less - after carrying it for most of this season made him more aerodynamic, streamlined.
So…