Alex Palou Beats Heat To Earn Second Career Indy 500 Pole

Alex Palou will start the defence of his 2025 victory from the best spot possible in the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge – the pole. 

Four-time and reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Palou earned his second career pole for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" in a dramatic Firestone Fast Six session Sunday afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning the NTT P1 Award and a $100,000 bonus with his four-lap average speed of 232.248 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. 

“I have no words,” Palou said. “So, that was incredible. It just feels incredible. Great start to the Month of May."  

“Did not expect it. You could see the celebration was really high because this morning when we woke up, we did not expect this speed.” Palou added.

The Spaniard will see a fellow Indianapolis 500 champion alongside him on the front row, as 2016 winner Alexander Rossi qualified second – his best qualifying performance among his 11 “500” starts – at 231.990 in the #20 Java House Chevrolet of Ed Carpenter Racing. 

Another driver earning his career-best Indy 500 start, Team Penske newcomer David Malukas, will start on the outside of the front row after qualifying third at 231.877 mph in the # 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. Malukas’ previous-best start was seventh last year for AJ Foyt Racing. 

Penske teammate, Scott McLaughlin, will start from ninth on the grid, in the #3 Penzoil 'Yello Submarine', one spot better than the ill-fated tenth spot in 2025.

Pictures: Indy Car / Team Penske - Facebook