Alex Palou turned the Bommarito 500 qualifying session into another statement moment in his IndyCar title charge, saving his best for last at World Wide Technology Raceway to claim pole with a crushing late run.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver was the final driver to make a qualifying attempt on the 1.25 mile oval, but he needed only two laps to reshape the order. Palou produced a two lap average speed of 174.353mph in the No. 10 Honda, beating David Malukas by more than one mph and securing another NTT P1 Award.
It was another remarkable marker in a season already loaded with them. The four time and reigning IndyCar Series champion claimed his 17th career pole, his fifth pole in nine races in 2026 and his fourth consecutive pole over the last month.
That run made Palou the first IndyCar driver to win four straight poles since Will Power in 2011. More importantly, it came at a circuit where Palou has rarely enjoyed the same level of control he has shown elsewhere.
“The team I have around me is incredible,” Palou said. “My car was on rails today; it was incredible. It’s the place that I’ve struggled the most so far (in my career), so hopefully (this speed) will continue tomorrow.”
Alex Palou delivers late WWTR qualifying blow
Palou had already shown pace in practice, finishing second in the earlier session before qualifying began in reverse championship order. Yet even with a strong car underneath him, he admitted the scale of the pole run came as a surprise.
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“I knew this morning that our car was super quick,” Palou said. “But I did not really expect to get the pole here today, honestly. It’s just incredible. Super proud and can’t wait for tomorrow.”
The result could become significant in the championship picture. Palou entered the Bommarito 500 weekend with a 62 point lead over Kyle Kirkwood, who qualified third and remains his nearest challenger in the standings.
The 260 lap race will also test whether Palou can finally turn speed at World Wide Technology Raceway into a podium. His best previous result at the venue was fourth in 2024, and the asymmetrical oval is the only circuit on the 2026 schedule where he had raced before without a top three finish.
David Malukas and Kyle Kirkwood chase Palou
Before Palou’s final run, Malukas had looked set to give Team Penske a major qualifying lift. The No. 12 Chevrolet driver posted a 173.244mph two lap average, continuing his strong debut season with the team at one of his best circuits.
Kirkwood, the 2025 World Wide Technology Raceway winner, put himself in position to defend that victory by qualifying third for Andretti Global with a 173.206mph average. He will start alongside Felix Rosenqvist, the 2026 Indianapolis 500 winner, who placed fourth for Meyer Shank Racing at 172.953mph.
Scott McLaughlin completed the top five for Team Penske with a 172.869mph average in the No. 3 Chevrolet, which carried a throwback livery honouring Helio Castroneves’ 2009 Indianapolis 500 victory.
Marcus Armstrong rounded out the third row for Meyer Shank Racing, narrowly edging Scott Dixon, who had briefly moved to the top with a 172.478mph effort for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Will Power and Pato O’Ward miss out in WWTR qualifying
The session had built steadily before Palou’s decisive run. Rookie Mick Schumacher was first on track and set the early pace for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, before Louis Foster, Santino Ferrucci and Kyffin Simpson each took turns at the top.
Alexander Rossi then raised the benchmark for ECR, while Rinus VeeKay, who had crashed in opening practice, recovered to post the second fastest time of the first 13 drivers. Marcus Ericsson and Dixon then pushed the speeds into a higher bracket before Armstrong briefly took over.
There were frustrations for some major names. Power, the all time IndyCar pole leader, endured a messy run and could only qualify 21st for Andretti Global. Pato O’Ward, who had been quickest in opening practice, struggled with bottoming through Turns 3 and 4 and qualified ninth for Arrow McLaren.
Josef Newgarden, a five time winner at World Wide Technology Raceway, will start eighth after a 172.415mph run for Team Penske. That still leaves him close enough to be a factor at a track where he has repeatedly found race winning pace.
But qualifying belonged to Palou, who turned the final run of the session into another warning to the field. The championship leader has already been the defining driver of the 2026 season, and his latest pole suggested even his weaker circuits are starting to fall into line.
