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Scott McLaughlin and Alex Palou Claim Milwaukee IndyCar Poles
Highlights
- Scott McLaughlin and Alex Palou claimed INDYCAR P1 awards.
- McLaughlin penalized nine spots, starts 10th despite pole position.
- Palou earned pole for Sunday but starts 11th due to penalty.
- Pato O’Ward inherits front position for today’s race grid.
- Races set for Saturday 2:30 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET.
Scott McLaughlin and Alex Palou secure the NTT P1 Awards in Saturday morning qualifying at the Milwaukee Mile, but engine penalties reshape today’s grid.
McLaughlin takes his 13th career pole at 165.536 mph in the No. 3 Clarience Technologies Penske. A nine-place drop for an unapproved engine change moves him to 10th for the Snap-on 250 and toward his 100th start.
The field completes two laps on the 1.015-mile oval. Lap one sets today’s 250-lap order, while lap two decides Sunday’s 250-lap grid.
Palou, chasing a fourth consecutive title, delivers Sunday’s pole at 164.658 mph in the No. 10 DHL Ganassi. He qualifies second for today at 164.147 mph, but drops to 11th for the same penalty and ongoing title fight.
The reigning champion’s qualifying execution remains relentless, reinforcing Ganassi’s baseline on short ovals. How rivals counter Palou’s race-day pace at Milwaukee is explored in our rivals-focused preview.
David Malukas posts 164.058 mph for third in the No. 12 Verizon Penske, then also takes a nine-place grid hit. Those combined drops elevate Pato O’Ward to the front for today’s race.
Pato O’Ward inherits today’s front spot after penalties for McLaughlin, Palou, and Malukas.
O’Ward qualifies fourth at 164.019 mph in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren and talks up late-season oval form. Josef Newgarden, quickest on Friday, starts fifth at 163.771 mph in the No. 2 Penske.
Sunday’s grid features O’Ward second at 164.655 mph, with Newgarden third at 163.767 mph. Rookie Mick Schumacher equals his best oval start, fourth at 163.244 mph for Rahal Letterman Lanigan.
Will Power continues his resurgence, lining up fifth Sunday at 163.243 mph in the No. 26 Andretti Global entry backed by Phoenix Investors.
Scott McLaughlin takes pole at 165.536 mph but starts 10th after a nine-place penalty.
Alex Palou secures Sunday pole and drops to 11th for today’s race due to an engine change.
Race times: Saturday 2:30 p.m. ET and Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET.
The penalties stem from unapproved engine changes following Washington, underlining reliability management late in a campaign. That pushes teams toward race-trim focus, traffic handling, and undercut potential across a doubleheader.
Palou’s championship drive remains the central theme, with a potential title-clinching outcome in play. Fans can also expect a special delivery of storylines as contenders work forward for crucial points.
Visual Summary
🏁 McLaughlin
P1
P10
Grid penalty ↓9
🔰 Palou
P1
P11
Grid penalty ↓9
Malukas
P3
P12
⬆️ O’Ward
P1
Promoted to pole
Penalty shake-up!
Pole winners drop, O’Ward inherits P1
Pole winners drop, O’Ward inherits P1
Palou: Chasing Historic 4th Title
4 in a row?
Will Palou rewrite the record books?
Sat. Race
2:30
PM ET
Sun. Race
1:00
PM ET
Pole-winners penalized.
Grid in flux.
Can the fastest drivers fight back?
Grid in flux.
Can the fastest drivers fight back?
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.
