Team Penske asserted its dominance on the opening day of qualifying for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, sweeping the top three positions among the drivers who advanced to Sunday’s battle for the NTT P1 Award pole position.

Will Power led the Penske charge by posting the fastest four-lap average of 233.758 mph in his No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet. Reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden was second at 233.332 mph, followed by Scott McLaughlin’s 233.293 mph in the No. 3 Pennzoil entry.

If the Penske trio can hold onto the top three spots after Sunday’s qualifying, it will mark just the second time in Indianapolis 500 history that one team has swept the front row. Penske previously accomplished the feat in 1988.

“It was a good, smooth run,” Power said. “We would have liked to have run in the heat, but (team owner) Roger (Penske) didn’t want us to go out. I think (Alexander) Rossi is the one who could break up the all-Penske front row, but I think one of us (Penske) will get the pole.”

Joining the Penske cars in the top 12 shootout for pole on Sunday are Alexander Rossi (4th), Kyle Kirkwood (5th), rookie Kyle Larson (6th), Felix Rosenqvist (7th) and Pato O’Ward (10th) among others.

The drama on the first day was provided by Rinus VeeKay, who made a last-gasp qualifying run to sneak into the top 12 after crashing earlier in the day. His Ed Carpenter Racing crew had to completely rebuild VeeKay’s No. 21 car after he hit the Turn 3 wall.

“This crew, they deserve a thousand dinners and a lot of beer,” VeeKay said after his 232.419 mph average got him the 11th position.

Graham Rahal will be one of four drivers vying for the final three spots in the 33-car field during Sunday’s Last Chance Qualifying session after failing to get a fast enough run in before time expired.

Sunday’s action kicks off with a practice for the top 12 drivers from noon to 1pm ET, followed by last chance practice from 1-2pm. Top 12 qualifying to determine the pole winner is from 3:05-4:05 pm, with Last Chance Qualifying from 4:15-5:15pm to set the final three rows of the starting grid.

The 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 is set for next Sunday, May 28 at 11am ET on NBC