By: Spencer Neff
July 26, 2025
Alex Palou stretched his NTT INDYCAR SERIES points lead to 100 and earned his fifth pole of 2025, as the Chip Ganassi Racing driver won pole for Sunday’s Java House Grand Prix of Monterey.
Palou will lead the 27-car field to the green flag in the 95-lap race. It is his second consecutive pole at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
It is Palou’s 11th career IndyCar pole, tying him with Danny Ongais and Rodger Ward for 31st all-time. CGR also has their 102nd INDYCAR pole as an organization.
Palou is the sixth driver to win multiple poles at the 2.238-mile, 11-turn permanent road course in Salinas, California and fifth to do so in consecutive seasons.
On Sunday, he goes for a third win at Laguna Seca and second in a row. In four previous starts here, Palou has not finished off the podium.
Round 3-Fast Six
Saving his best lap for when it counted the most, Palou turned in a dominant 1m08.3413 (117.891 mph), .2867 of a second ahead of Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward.
O’Ward is currently second in points and has won two of the last three races.
On the second row will be Andretti Global’s Colton Herta (2019 and 2021 race winner) and Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden.
On Row 3 are Newgarden’s teammate Will Power and A.J. Foyt Racing’s David Malukas.
Round 2-Fast 12
Palou (1m08.5948-117.455 mph) was fastest in Round 2, advancing to the run for the pole with Herta, O’Ward, Malukas, Newgarden and Power.
Falling short of the Fast Six were Christian Lundgaard, Graham Rahal, Louis Foster, Christian Rasmussen and Felix Rosenqvist. Foster will again start first among the rookies in the field (Abel and Shwartzman).
Rosenqvist was initially second but was docked his fastest lap after a spin in Turn 5 impeded Rasmussen. The penalty would allow Power into the Top Six.
Round 1
Palou (1m08.6652) led Group 1, advancing to Round 2 with Rosenqvist, Rasmussen, Lundgaard, Herta and Newgarden.
Missing out on the second round were Scott McLaughlin, Marcus Ericsson, Rinus VeeKay, Scott Dixon, Jacob Abel, Conor Daly and Robert Shwartzman. They will start on the inside of Rows 7-13 tomorrow.
O’Ward would be the fastest out of Group 2, posting a best lap of 1m08.7514-117.187 mph). Joining him in Round 2 would be Armstrong, Malukas, Power and Foster.
Devlin DeFrancesco was 14th in the session and starts 27th. Also missing out on advancing were Kyffin Simpson, Nolan Siegel, Kyle Kirkwood, Santino Ferrucci, Alexander Rossi, Callum Ilott and Sting Ray Robb. They will start outside Rows 7-13.
Up Next
Here is the remaining on-track schedule for the weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Stay with IndyCar1909.com and our social media for the latest on the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.Â
(Note: following the cancellation of Saturday morning practice, the warmup has been moved to Saturday afternoon with inclimate weather expected tomorrow morning .)
At-track schedule (all times local):
Saturday, July 26
1:31 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 “Drivers Start Your Engines”
1:36 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 (35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55 minutes), FS2
4:02-4:27 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, FS2 (Live)
Sunday, July 27
10:01 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 “Drivers Start Your Engines”
10:06 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 (35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55 minutes), FS1 (Live)
Noon – FOX on air
12:15 p.m. – Java House Grand Prix of Monterey “Drivers, start your engines”
12:22 p.m. – Java House Grand Prix of Monterey (95 laps/212.61 miles), FOX (Live)
Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR
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