The Swede led opening lap, which began below warning as a result of a race management subject, however rapidly misplaced out to fellow entrance row starter Will Power as soon as the inexperienced flag got here out on lap two of 85.
It proved to mark the start of a downward slide, as Rosenqvist rapidly fell to fourth by lap 5. He had dropped two extra locations throughout the following three laps and by no means managed to get well the misplaced monitor place on his strategy to ending ninth.
“The opening phase is the place we primarily misplaced the race,” Rosenqvist stated.
“We had some points with the brakes: they have been operating actually scorching, so I used to be actually off on my bias and needed to chase it.
“We actually lacked braking efficiency, which meant I saved getting handed in Flip 1, inside and outdoors. With out braking confidence, you may’t shield, and you may’t go ahead.
“However the group did properly regardless of that, we saved our heads cool – though it sucked to go plummeting down the sector.”
With two entrance row begins and two prime 10 outcomes from the opening two points-paying races of 2024, having completed seventh in St. Petersburg earlier than the disqualification of Team Penske drivers Josef Newgarden and Scott McLaughlin for push-to-pass violations elevated him two positions, Rosenqvist sits sixth within the standings simply 24 factors behind chief Scott Dixon.
Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing Honda
Photograph by: Josh Tons / Motorsport Images
“We’re trying on the huge image and a prime 10 end result for the group remains to be actually nice for us,” stated Rosenqivst, who additionally completed third within the non-points occasion at The Thermal Membership final month.
“In fact, we’d have appreciated to translate the pole right into a win, however that is good momentum for everybody.”
Now, the eye shifts to the upcoming weekend’s spherical at Barber Motorsports Park, a monitor that Rosenqvist has two prime 10 ends in 4 begins.
“We examined there a few weeks in the past, which is useful,” Rosenqvist stated.
“It’s good to have that below your belt going into the race weekend the place a lot of the groups haven’t.
“I nonetheless assume it’s a monitor that we identified that we need to work on. I really feel fairly good about it, I’m not 100% that our bundle will likely be as sturdy because it was right here, however I feel now we have an excellent baseline to work with.
“First street course of the season and I’m excited to see how the automotive goes to really feel.”
Watch: Spherical 3 – Lengthy Seaside: 6 Minute Highlights