Spencer Neff

Alex Palou wins pole for the 110th Indianapolis 500

By: Spencer Neff
May 17, 2026

Qualifying Results Starting Grid

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou continued a historic run as he posted a 232.248 mph four-lap average to win pole for the 110th Indianapolis 500. It is Palou’s second pole at the “500” (2023), his 15th career pole and third pole of 2026.

That mark ties Juan Pablo Montoya and Tony Kanaan for 22nd all-time.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader also becomes the first race winner to win pole the following year since Helio Castroneves did so at the 2010 Indianapolis 500.

He is also the first driver to win poles for both May races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana since they began running at the road course in addition to the 2.5-mile oval.

CGR now has eight poles at the Indianapolis 500 and their 106th INDYCAR pole. Palou was the only driver from the organization to make the Fast Six.

Rossi looks for his second Indianapolis 500 a decade after winning in his rookie year. (Image By Paul Hurley/INDYCAR)

Round 3-Fast Six:

After going out first in the final round of qualifying, Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi posted a four-lap average of 231.998 mph. The 2016 race winner now earns his second front row start (2017) and the best qualifying effort in 11 Indianapolis 500s.

David Malukas continued his first Indianapolis 500 with Team Penske by earning their 50th front row start at Indianapolis as they celebrate their 60th anniversary, Malukas was also the only Penske car in the Fast Six.

After setting the pace in the first rounds of qualifying, Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist qualified fourth. He and Palou were the only Honda entries in the Fast Six, with four Chevrolets joining the.

Rounding out the second row are A.J. Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci, 2019 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward- 2020 Rookie of the Year and two-time runner-up at the Indianapolis 500.

Rosenqvist has three starts in the Top Five in as many years (Image By Paul Hurley/INDYCAR)

Round 2-Fast 12:

Kyffin Simpson kicked off the second round of qualifying and his guaranteed best Indianapolis 500 start with a 230.883 mph run, followed by his CGR teammate. That run was almost enough to reach the Fast Six but fell short and Simpson rolls off seventh next Sunday.

Palou would be the only driver to improve upon his earlier qualifying effort (231.665 mph) in the Fast 12.

Ferrucci slotted into the Fast Six along with Rossi, O’Ward and Malukas.

Rosenqvist again blistered the field and was the only driver to eclipse 232 mph on his four-lap average.

Despite posting the second-, fourth- and fifth-best opening laps of the round: Rinus VeeKay, Scott McLaughlin and Caio Collet did not advance. Collet is the fastest rookie in the field and starts 10th. McLaughlin is ninth and VeeKay is 12th.

Although he missed out on the Fast Six, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing’s Conor Daly starts eighth, the best in his 13th Indianapolis 500 appearance. Simpson’s teammate Scott Dixon will start 11th.

Collet has been fastest among the rookies dating back to April’s Open Test (Image By Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR)

Positions 7-12 are as follows. (R) denotes rookie. (W) denotes previous Indianapolis 500 winner

Row 3: Kyffin Simpson, Conor Daly Scott McLaughlin

Row 4: Caio Collet (R) Scott Dixon (W) Rinus VeeKay

Up Next

Monday practice after qualifying is set for 1:00 p.m. ET on Monday, May 19. Final Practice will be held on Carb Day (Friday, May 22) at 11:00 a.m (FS1). with the annual Pit Stop Competition at 2:00 (FOX). 

Pre-Race begins at 10:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 24th (FOX) with the green flag for the 200-lap race on the 2.5-mile oval at 12:45 p.m. Stick with IndyCar1909.com and our social media platforms for all the latest on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. 

Header Image By Joe Skibinski/INDYCAR

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