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Alex Palou Extends Pole Streak to Five at Road America 2026
Highlights
- Alex Palou earned fifth consecutive pole at Road America.
- Palou’s 18th career pole ties Chip Ganassi legend Zanardi.
- David Malukas qualified second, Marcus Armstrong achieved third.
- Kyle Kirkwood struggled, starting 18th in this race weekend.
- Live race coverage starts at 2 p.m. ET on FOX.
- Tire strategy remains crucial amid weekend-firestone Firehawk debates.
Alex Palou extends his qualifying dominance with a fifth consecutive pole at Road America, clocking 1:43.6615 for the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America Presented by AMR.
The championship leader’s No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda secures a sixth pole from 10 races this season and the 18th of his career, matching team great Alex Zanardi’s benchmark streak.
Zanardi’s run spans late 1996 into early 1997, underscoring the rarity of Palou’s sequence across formats and venues.
Palou credits Ganassi’s execution and Honda’s performance, despite a compromised second round when the lap didn’t come together. Recent gains in Ganassi fuel discipline and pace conversion continue to underpin his run.
David Malukas sustains his breakout form, taking second with a 1:43.9542 for the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. Despite flu symptoms, Marcus Armstrong delivers a career-best third at 1:44.0225 for Meyer Shank’s No. 66 Honda, building on his Road America momentum.
Felix Rosenqvist completes a strong Meyer Shank showing, starting fourth with a 1:44.0502 in the No. 60 Honda, locking out row two with Armstrong.
Malukas 1:43.9542; Armstrong career-best P3 at 1:44.0225 despite the flu.
Marcus Ericsson lines up fifth after a 1:44.1737 in the No. 28 Delaware Life Honda, ahead of Scott McLaughlin’s No. 3 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet on 1:44.8242.
Palou enters with a 49-point lead over Kyle Kirkwood, who endures a difficult weekend for Andretti Global. Kirkwood starts 18th, having managed only 15th-best in any session on the 4.014-mile, 14-turn circuit.
Qualifying ebbs and flows favor Palou late. He leads his opening group, then slips to fourth in the Fast 12 by 0.3901s to Malukas, before delivering the decisive Firestone Fast Six lap on his penultimate run.
Pole secured on the penultimate lap of the Firestone Fast Six, not the final flyer.
Palou now targets a series-record fourth Road America victory. He is the defending winner at the longest road course on the schedule, a track that rewards rhythm and tyre discipline.
Race day coverage starts at 2 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX Deportes, following an 11 a.m. warmup on FS1. Additional coverage is available via INDYCAR Radio.
Tire usage remains the key unknown. Teams weigh Firestone Firehawk primary durability against alternate performance, with views shifting through practice and qualifying as conditions evolve.
Firestone primary vs alternate choice is expected to dictate stint length and track position.
Palou’s ongoing pole streak reflects sustained one-lap execution from driver and team. Elsewhere in the build-up, Pato O’Ward at Road America outlines McLaren’s approach to setup and tyre management for the 55-lap contest.
Visual Summary
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PALOU
PALOU
Pole #5 in a row
1
2
3
4
5
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Ties Alex Zanardi
Palou’s fifth straight Road America pole!
Leaderboard Climber: Palou dominates qualifying, matching Zanardi’s unforgettable streak and aiming for another record win.
Lap: 1:43.6615 | 6 poles in 10 races in 2024
Lap: 1:43.6615 | 6 poles in 10 races in 2024
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1st
Palou
1:43.661
1st
Palou
1:43.661
?
2nd
Malukas
1:43.954
2nd
Malukas
1:43.954
?
3rd
Armstrong
1:44.023
3rd
Armstrong
1:44.023
?
Back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back! Palou became
the first since Zanardi (1996-97) to grab 5 poles in a row.
Back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back! Palou became
the first since Zanardi (1996-97) to grab 5 poles in a row.
Palou
Malukas
Armstrong
Rosenqvist
Ericsson
McLaughlin
6 poles in 10 races this year
Fastest Lap: 1:43.661
49-point lead in standings
? Defending Road America winner
Tire gamble: Teams straddle the line between Firestone Primary & Alternate, with strategy still undecided!
⚡ Palou stands atop the pole mountain—can anyone catch him?
Brian Thompson focuses on IndyCar Series news, from qualifying speeds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to street-course race strategy. He delivers concise feature stories and technical breakdowns on chassis setups, tire choices, and championship standings for open-wheel enthusiasts.
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