Will Power Secures Third for Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio

Will Power secured the third starting position for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, leading the Honda-powered NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers. His #26 Andretti Global machine will begin Sunday's race from the second row after a highly competitive qualifying session at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 4, 2026. This marks Power's second-best starting position since joining Andretti Global for the 2026 season.

Andretti Global's Strong Showing

Andretti Global demonstrated a strong collective performance during qualifying, with all three of its drivers securing spots within the top 10. Will Power's third-place effort was complemented by Marcus Ericsson, who will start seventh, and Kyle Kirkwood, who qualified tenth. This consistent showing positions the team favorably for the upcoming race.

The qualifying session itself was exceptionally tight, particularly among the top contenders. Drivers from fourth through tenth place were separated by less than one-tenth of a second. Power commented on the session, stating, "That was really good for us. I'm glad we got qualifying completed in the dry because I felt like we had a good car and we were in a position where we could capitalize in those conditions. We left nothing on the table there." He added, "I'm really happy with our Honda, we've been having really good races with it lately. I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

Palou's Pole Streak Ends and Local Interest

Championship leader Alex Palou, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, will start eighth, bringing an end to his remarkable streak of five consecutive pole positions. Palou's consistent front-row starts have been a feature of recent races, making this Honda Indy 200 qualifying result a notable shift in the season's narrative.

Further down the grid, Ohio native Graham Rahal, a past winner of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2015, successfully advanced to the Top-12 qualifying round. Rahal secured the 12th starting spot for his Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda, ensuring a strong local presence near the front of the field.

Acura's Brand Activation and Race Broadcast

Marcus Armstrong of Meyer Shank Racing qualified 24th in an Acura-branded Honda Indy car. This appearance represents the third instance of Acura branding on an IndyCar this season, a strategic move to celebrate the brand's 40th anniversary and introduce Acura to a broader audience within the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Previous Acura-branded entries have seen strong results, including Felix Rosenqvist's performance at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, where he started from pole and finished second. Armstrong himself also competed with Acura branding at the Indy 500, where he finished fifth after briefly leading the race.

The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio is officially presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid. Race coverage is scheduled for Sunday, July 5, 2026, airing live on Fox at 12:30 PM ET. Fans can also follow the complete, flag-to-flag race action on the INDYCAR Radio Network and SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation (Channel 160).

As the NTT INDYCAR SERIES prepares for the Honda Indy 200, the qualifying results indicate a highly competitive event. Honda-powered teams, particularly Andretti Global, are well-positioned, and the conclusion of Alex Palou's pole streak adds an intriguing dynamic to Sunday's race for both participants and viewers.