Spanish racing driver Alex Palou has secured the top starting position for this year’s Indianapolis 500, positioning himself perfectly for a potential repeat championship when the race unfolds on May 24.
The 29-year-old driver achieved his second career pole position during Sunday’s qualifying session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, recording a four-lap average speed of 232.248 mph.
As the current four-time and reigning IndyCar Series champion, Palou previously earned pole position for the 2023 race, where he ultimately placed fourth. The last defending champion to start from pole position in the following year’s race was four-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves in 2010.
“I have no words,” Palou expressed regarding his pole position for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. “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 (after winning the pole) because this morning when we woke up, we did not expect this speed.”
Joining Palou’s No. 10 Honda from Chip Ganassi Racing on the front row are Chevrolet drivers Alexander Rossi from Ed Carpenter Racing and David Malukas from Team Penske. The 2016 champion Rossi posted a personal-best average of 231.990 mph, while Malukas claimed third place with 231.877 mph.
An interesting twist occurred when Palou’s wife, Esther, randomly selected the 31st position out of 33 drivers during Friday evening’s blind draw for qualifying order. Saturday’s qualifying session was canceled due to rain, compressing the entire qualifying process into Sunday with elimination rounds reducing the field from 33 to 12 to six drivers for grid determination.
During the first qualifying round, Palou ranked 11th with a four-lap average of 231.155, then improved to second-fastest in the subsequent round (231.665) behind Felix Rosenqvist from Meyer Shank Racing. His team successfully adjusted the car setup for the warmer, sunny conditions during the day’s hottest period.
“I have to say being on the 31st — thanks to my wife, by the way, for drawing that number — I think being there allowed us to work on those conditions,” Palou commented. “It’s not easy to do everything the way this team is executing.”
The second row features Rosenqvist’s Honda in fourth place (231.375) alongside Chevrolets driven by Santino Ferrucci (230.846) from A.J. Foyt Racing and Pato O’Ward (230.442) from Arrow McLaren.
Katherine Legge earned the 27th starting position in the No. 11 Chevrolet, placing her on Row 9. Legge intends to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600, which would make her the first female driver to successfully complete the “Double” if accomplished on May 24.
The Double requires drivers to participate in both premier races, covering 1,100 miles with minimal time between the Indy and NASCAR Cup Series events. Five drivers have previously attempted this challenge since John Andretti originated and completed the concept in 1994 while driving for A.J. Foyt Racing.
The 45-year-old Legge will race in the Indy 500 for A.J. Foyt Racing before flying directly to drive the No. 78 car for Live Fast Motorsports in the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, N.C., which begins several hours afterward. She has previously entered and qualified for four Indy 500 races and represents the only woman in the 2026 field.
