By: Spencer Neff
May 8, 2026

Practice 2 Results Combined Practice Results Qualifying Groups

Alex Palou displayed his pace again during second practice for Saturday’s Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.

The Chip Ganassi Racing driver notched a best lap of 1m10.4507 (124.632 mph) during the session as he looks to win a fourth time in five races at the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course in Speedway, Indiana. Palou was .1067 of second ahead of Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, the drivers are currently 1-2 in the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES points standings.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Louis Foster gave Honda a 1-2-3 finish for the second time in as many sessions. 2023 pole winner Christian Lundgaard of Arrow McLaren was the best Chevrolet in fourth, with Kirkwood’s teammate Marcus Ericsson in fifth.

Foster’s teammate Mick Schumacher was best among the rookies in seventh, leading his group during the split 12-minute sessions. He and Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Sting Ray Robb were the only drivers in the 25-car field to post their best lap in this practice.

Although the session went on without a major incident, two drivers were forced out early as Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyffin Simpson and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal were sidelined with clutch issues. Simpson’s teammate Scott Dixon would also exit practice early after Honda expressed concerns with the engine on his entry.

Darkening skies bring a potential rain threat during this afternoon’s qualifying as well.

Up Next

Here is the remaining on-track schedule for the weekend. Stick with IndyCar1909.com for the latest on the Sonsio Grand Prix and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. 

At-track schedule (all times local):

FRIDAY, MAY 8

1:05-2:25 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (split group format), FS1 (Live)

5:35 p.m. Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (three rounds of NTT INDYCAR SERIES knockout

qualifications), FS2 (Live)

SATURDAY, MAY 9

11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. NTT INDYCAR SERIES warmup, FS1 (Live)

4:30 p.m. FOX on air

4:40 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix “Drivers, start your engines”

4:47 p.m. Sonsio Grand Prix (85 laps/207.3 miles), FOX (Live)

Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR