Alex Palou wins just about everything in the IndyCar Series, so why not the Indianapolis 500 pole position.
The defending race champ had a 232.248 mph 4-lap qualifying run in the Fast Six, breezing to the top of the 33-car grid for the May 24 race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval.
Alexander Rossi (231.990) and David Malukas (231.877) complete the front row. The second row has Felix Rosenqvist (231.275), Santino Ferrucci (230.846) and Pato O’Ward (230.442).
Palou — who also won the Indy 500 pole in 2023 — has won three of six races in 2026, leads the IndyCar points and has earned three poles in the last four races.
Indy 500 qualifying 2026 leaderboard: Fast 6
Indy 500 qualifying 2026 leaderboard: Fast 12
Drivers advancing to Fast 6 of 2026 Indy 500 qualifying
Felix Rosenqvist, Alex Palou, David Malukas, Santino Ferrucci, Pato O’Ward, Alexander Rossi. That’s six teams represented, with Honda engines powering the two fastest, followed by four Chevrolets.
2026 Indy 500 Row 3
2026 Indy 500 Row 4
Indy 500 qualifying 2026 leaderboard: Fast 12
O’Ward was … less than happy … with the run.
Indy 500 qualifying 2026 leaderboard: First round
Drivers advancing to Fast 12 of Indy 500 qualifying
Felix Rosenqvist, David Malukas, Conor Daly, Scott McLaughlin, Rinus VeeKay, Alexander Rossi, Caio Collet, Scott Dixon, Pato O’Ward, Santino Ferrucci, Alex Palou, Kyffin Simpson.
All three Chip Ganassi Racing cars advance, with two each from Team Penske and A.J. Foyt Racing (including rookie Collet) moving on. Chevrolet engines power eight of the Fast 12, and Honda four.
Rows 5-11 for 2026 Indy 500
2026 Indy 500 Row 5
2026 Indy 500 Row 6
2026 Indy 500 Row 7
2026 Indy 500 Row 8
2026 Indy 500 Row 9
2026 Indy 500 Row 10
2026 Indy 500 Row 11
(With car number, driver, engine, team, 4-lap speed average in mph)
Daly puts together four consistent laps, all within .2 of a mile per hour of each other. The Noblesville, Indiana, driver thrills the crowd, but he tells Fox Sports he never felt comfortable.
Indy 500 leaderboard for qualifying practice
Indy 500 practice speed chart
Fourteen cars take laps. Andretti Global’s cars, which have struggled this week, rank 11-13. Ed Carpenter Racing cars rank 1, 3 and 4.
10:10 a.m.: Takuma Sato brushes the wall in Turn 2, prompting a caution. Sato is able to continue to pit road. That’s the first contact by any car in Indy 500 practice.
10 a.m.: Santino Ferrucci discusses his situation approaching qualifying, including advice from team owner and four-time race winner A.J. Foyt.
9:45 a.m.: There aren’t many takers. The Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing teams are content to wait until qualifying to get on-track, according to the Fox Sports broadcast.
On Fast Friday, Penske drivers Scott McLaughlin (1st), David Malukas (9th) and two-time race champ Josef Newgarden (14th) fared well on no-tow laps (qualifying conditions). CGR drivers were 2nd (Alex Palou), 11th (Scott Dixon) and 23rd (Kyffin Simpson).
Indy 500 qualifying schedule, format for today, May 17
Indianapolis 500 2025 qualifying order today
(Each driver will get one 4-lap attempt starting at noon ET; the session should last approximately 3 hours)
How can I watch Indy 500 qualifying today? What channel is Indy 500 qualifying on?
(All times ET; all IndyCar sessions are on IndyCar Live, IndyCar Radio, Sirius XM Channel 218 and the Fox One app)
Will it rain during Indianapolis 500 qualifying today, May 17? Indy 500 qualifying weather forecast
Indy 500 qualifying predictions from IndyStar’s Zion Brown
How can I stream the Indianapolis 500 today? How to stream the Indy 500
FoxSports.com, Fox Sports app
Watch Indy 500 action on Fubo
How much are Indy 500 qualifying tickets today?
Indy 500 qualifying tickets start at $30
Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar’s motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Who won Indianapolis 500 pole position? Defending race champ Alex Palou will start first
Reporting by Scott Horner and Zion Brown, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
