By: Spencer Neff
May 9, 2026
Moving the qualifying session following a shower yesterday afternoon would not dampen Alex Palou’s run. After posting a best lap of 1m09.7487 (125.886 mph) during the final round of qualifying, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver starts on the pole for the second time in 2026, third consecutive time on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
This is Palou’s 14th career INDYCAR pole, tying him with Tom Sneva, Don Branson and Tony Bettenhausen for 24th all-time. CGR also earns their 105th INDYCAR pole, second to Team Penske.
Palou will lead the 25-car field to the green flag in Saturday afternoon’s 85-lap race.
Round 3-Fast Six
Joining Palou on the front row is Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, best among the Chevrolets after Palou’s Honda. O’Ward finished .5475 of a second back of Palou’s best lap.
Row 2 will be occupied by Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist and O’Ward’s teammate Christian Lundgaard.
Team Penske’s David Malukas and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Louis Foster completed the Fast Six.
Round 2-Fast 12
Palou (1m09.79060-125.829 mph) again set a blistering pace in Round 2 to lead the run for the pole. Also making the Fast Six were O’Ward, Lundgaard, Rosenqvist, Foster and Malukas.
Graham Rahal, Scott Dixon, Kyle Kirkwood, Josef Newgarden and Romain Grosjean missed the cut and will start in seventh through 12th.
Round 1:
Group 1: Kirkwood (1m10.2178-125.045) led the opening group following the overnight rain. Moving on to the next round in addition were Dixon, O’Ward, Rahal, Newgarden and Collet.
Unable to advance were Alexander Rossi, Santino Ferrucci, Scott McLaughlin, Christian Rasmussen, Rinus VeeKay and Sting Ray Robb. They line up on the inside of Rows 7-12.
Group 2: Palou (1m09.9125-125.591 mph) led the second group and would move on to the Fast 12 with Malukas, Rosenqvist, Foster, Grosjean and Lundgaard.
Missing out on advancing were Will Power, who starts alone on Row 13- along with Marcus Ericsson, Nolan Siegel, Mick Schumacher, Marcus Armstrong, Kyffin Simpson and Dennis Hauger. Those six driver will occupy Rows 7-12.
Up Next
Here is the remaining on-track schedule for today. Stick with IndyCar1909.com for the latest on the Sonsio Grand Prix and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
At-track schedule (all times local)
SATURDAY, MAY 9
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
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