Alex Palou Claims Pole for 110th Indy 500 with Honda

Alex Palou has secured pole position for Honda at the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, qualifying on May 18, 2026. Driving the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing machine, Palou achieved a speed of 232.248 miles per hour, making him the only driver in the Firestone Fast Six shootout to exceed 232 mph. This achievement marks his second pole position at the Indy 500, following his previous success in 2023.

Palou Secures Pole Position

Palou's pole position places him in a strong starting spot for the upcoming race. The Spanish driver is the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner and the current NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion. He is now poised to potentially become the seventh driver in IndyCar history to win consecutive Indy 500s.

Beyond his Indy 500 aspirations, Palou currently leads the 2026 drivers' championship by a 27-point margin. He is pursuing his fifth NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship and his fourth consecutive title, demonstrating consistent performance throughout the season.

Honda's Strong Qualifying Performance

Other Honda-powered drivers also delivered notable qualifying results. Felix Rosenqvist, representing Meyer Shank Racing Honda, will start fourth. Rosenqvist led the initial two rounds of qualifications, securing his spot in the Top 12 and Firestone Fast Six for the second consecutive year.

Chip Ganassi Racing saw two additional Honda drivers in the Top 12. Kyffin Simpson, one of the youngest competitors, qualified seventh, marking his best starting position in three Indianapolis 500 appearances. Veteran Scott Dixon, the 2008 Indy 500 winner, will start 11th. Two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda) qualified 13th, while Helio Castroneves (Meyer Shank Racing Honda), aiming for a record fifth win, starts 15th. Marcus Armstrong (Meyer Shank Racing Honda), piloting an Acura-branded car to celebrate Acura's 40th anniversary, qualified 17th with a speed of 230.701 mph.

Anticipation for the 110th Indy 500

The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2026. Race coverage will begin at 10 AM ET on Fox.

The event continues to draw significant viewership, with the 2025 Indianapolis 500 averaging 7.087 million viewers on FOX. This figure represented the most-watched Indy 500 in 17 years and a 41% increase compared to 2024, highlighting the race's growing audience.

With Alex Palou securing the pole and several other Honda-powered teams demonstrating strong qualifying pace, Honda is well-positioned for the 110th Indianapolis 500. The upcoming race offers Palou an opportunity for a historic back-to-back victory and further strengthens Honda's presence in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship.