Who won Indianapolis 500 pole position? Defending race champ Alex Palou will start first

• Defending Indianapolis 500 champion Alex Palou will start the 2026 race from pole position.
• 2016 race winner Alexander Rossi and David Malukas complete the front row.
• Here is every qualifying attempt from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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

• 60, Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, Meyer Shank Racing, 231.375
• 10, Alex Palou, Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, 232.248
• 12, David Malukas, Chevrolet, Team Penske, 231.877
• 14, Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, A.J. Foyt Racing, 230.846
• 5, Pato O'Ward, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 230.442
• 20, Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing, 231.990 

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

• 8, Kyffin Simpson, Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, 230.883
• 23, Conor Daly, Chevrolet, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, 230.712
• 3, Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, Team Penske, 230.577

2026 Indy 500 Row 4

• 4, Caio Collet, Chevrolet, A.J. Foyt Racing, 230.539
• 9, Scott Dixon, Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, 230.347
• 76, Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, Juncos Hollinger, 229.585

Indy 500 qualifying 2026 leaderboard: Fast 12

• 60, Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, Meyer Shank Racing, 232.065

• 12, David Malukas, Chevrolet, Team Penske, 231.486
• 23, Conor Daly, Chevrolet, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, 230.712
• 3, Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, Team Penske, 230.577
• 76, Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, Juncos Hollinger, 229.585
• 20, Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing, 231.005
• 4, Caio Collet, Chevrolet, A.J. Foyt Racing, 230.539
• 9, Scott Dixon, Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, 230.347
• 5, Pato O'Ward, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 231.088

O'Ward was ... less than happy ... with the run.

• 14, Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, A.J. Foyt Racing, 231.098
• 10, Alex Palou, Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, 231.665

• 8, Kyffin Simpson, Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, 230.883

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

• 13, 75, Takuma Sato, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, 230.995
• 14, 33, Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing, 230.829
• 15, 06, Helio Castroneves, Honda, Meyer Shank Racing, 230.811

2026 Indy 500 Row 6

• 16, 21, Christian Rasmussen, Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing, 230.705
• 17, 66, Marcus Armstrong, Honda, Meyer Shank Racing, 230.701
• 18, 28, Marcus Ericsson, Honda, Andretti Global, 230.667

2026 Indy 500 Row 7

• 19, 7, Christian Lundgaard, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 230.661
• 20, 26, Will Power, Honda, Andretti Global, 230.279
• 21, 6, Nolan Siegel, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 230.213

2026 Indy 500 Row 8

• 22, 45, Louis Foster, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, 230.212
• 23, 31, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 230.202
• 24, 2, Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, Team Penske, 230.165

2026 Indy 500 Row 9

• 25, 18, Romain Grosjean, Honda, Dale Coyne Racing, 229.791
• 26, 27, Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, Andretti Global, 229.607
• 27, 11, Katherine Legge, Chevrolet, A.J. Foyt Racing, 229.456

2026 Indy 500 Row 10

• 28, 47, Mick Schumacher, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, 229.450
• 29, 24, Jack Harvey, Chevrolet, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, 229.207
• 30, 15, Graham Rahal, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, 229.017

2026 Indy 500 Row 11

• 31, 19, Dennis Hauger, Honda, Dale Coyne Racing, 228.982
• 32, 51, Jacob Abel, Chevrolet, Abel Motorsports, 226.169
• 33, 77, Sting Ray Robb, Chevrolet, Juncos Hollinger, 226.572

(With car number, driver, engine, team, 4-lap speed average in mph)

• 11, Katherine Legge, Chevrolet, A.J. Foyt Racing, 229.456
• 51, Jacob Abel, Chevrolet, Abel Motorsports, 226.169
• 10, Alex Palou, Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, 231.155
• 24, Jack Harvey, Chevrolet, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, 229.207
• 8, Kyffin Simpson, Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, 231.095
• 45, Louis Foster, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, 230.212
• 21, Christian Rasmussen, Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing, 230.705
• 75, Takuma Sato, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, 230.995
• 06, Helio Castroneves, Honda, Meyer Shank Racing, 230.811
• 4, Caio Collet, Chevrolet, A.J. Foyt Racing, 231.419

• 27, Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, Andretti Global, 229.067
• 77, Sting Ray Robb, Chevrolet, Juncos Hollinger, 226.572
• 19, Dennis Hauger, Honda, Dale Coyne Racing, 228.982
• 20, Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing, 231.580
• 12, David Malukas, Chevrolet, Team Penske, 231.813
• 5, Pato O'Ward, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 231.348
• 66, Marcus Armstrong, Honda, Meyer Shank Racing, 230.701
• 18, Romain Grosjean, Honda, Dale Coyne Racing, 229.791
• 47, Mick Schumacher, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, 229.450
• 23, Conor Daly, Chevrolet, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, 231.744

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.

• 28, Marcus Ericsson, Honda, Andretti Global, 230.667
• 14, Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, A.J. Foyt Racing, 231.224
• 60, Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, Meyer Shank Racing, 232.599

• 26, Will Power, Honda, Andretti Global, 230.279
• 2, Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, Team Penske, 230.165

• 15, Graham Rahal, Honda, Rahal Letterman Lanigan, 229.017
• 6, Nolan Siegel, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 230.213
• 3, Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, Team Penske, 231.623
• 76, Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, Juncos Hollinger, 231.591
• 33, Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, Ed Carpenter Racing, 230.829

• 31, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 230.202
• 7, Christian Lundgaard, Chevrolet, Arrow McLaren, 230.661
• 9, Scott Dixon, Honda, Chip Ganassi Racing, 231.411

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.

1. Christian Rasmussen, 232.255 mph
2. Takuma Sato, 231.759
3. Ed Carpenter, 231.684
4. Alexander Rossi, 231.588
5. Helio Castroneves, 231.554
6. Louis Foster, 231.429
7. Santino Ferrucci, 231.282
8. Katherine Legge, 231.057
9. Graham Rahal, 230.979
10. Mick Schumacher, 230.376
11. Marcus Ericsson, 230.134
12. Kyle Kirkwood, 229.940
13. Will Power, 229.883
14. Ryan Hunter-Reay, 228.743

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

• 9 a.m.: Gates open
• 9:30 a.m.: Full-field practice
• 10:45 a.m.: Enlistment ceremony
• Noon: Qualifying; each driver gets one attempt with the 12 fastest advancing
• 3:15 p.m.: Monster Jam world record attempt
• 4:30 p.m.: Top 12 qualifying
• 6 p.m.: Fast 6

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)

1. Scott Dixon
2. Christian Lundgaard
3. Ryan Hunter-Reay
4. Ed Carpenter
5. Rinus VeeKay
6. Scott McLaughlin
7. Nolan Siegel
8. Graham Rahal
9. Josef Newgarden
10. Will Power
11. Felix Rosenqvist
12. Santino Ferrucci
13. Marcus Ericsson
14. Conor Daly
15. Mick Schumacher
16. Romain Grosjean
17. Marcus Armstrong
18. Pato O'Ward
19. David Malukas
20. Alexander Rossi
21. Dennis Hauger
22. Sting Ray Robb
23. Kyle Kirkwood
24. Caio Collet
25. Helio Castroneves
26. Takuma Sato
27. Christian Rasmussen
28. Louis Foster
29. Kyffin Simpson
30. Jack Harvey
31. Alex Palou
32. Jacob Abel
33. Katherine Legge

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 theFox One app)

• Sunday, May 17
• 9:30-10:30 a.m.: Indy 500 practice, FS2
• Noon: First round of qualifying, FS2
• 4 p.m.: Top 12 qualifying, Fox (session begins at 4:30 p.m.)
• 6 p.m.: Fast 6, Fox

Will it rain during Indianapolis 500 qualifying today, May 17? Indy 500 qualifying weather forecast

• Sunday: Cloudy in the morning and partly cloudy skies in the afternoon with a high in the mid 80s.

Indy 500 qualifying predictions from IndyStar's Zion Brown

• Who wins pole position, and at what 4-lap speed average? "Takuma Sato will win his first Indy 500 pole with an average speed of 233.6 mph."
• Who is the surprise driver advancing to Top 12 qualifying? "A.J. Foyt Racing's Caio Collet has looked faster than expected throughout practice and the open test."
• Who will be left out of the top 12 unexpectedly? "Kyle Kirkwood. Andretti Global's cars have been surprisingly slow this week, and Kirkwood has started on the front four rows just once."

How can I stream the Indianapolis 500 today? How to stream the Indy 500

FoxSports.com, Fox Sports app

How much are Indy 500 qualifying tickets today?

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 theYouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.