Honda Aims for 17th Indy 500 Win with Palou Leading Field

The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24, 2026, will see reigning champion Alex Palou lead the field to green in his #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Honda-powered teams are poised for a strong performance, aiming to secure the manufacturer's 17th victory at the historic event. The race will be broadcast live on Fox starting at 10:00 AM ET.

Palou Leads Strong Honda Contingent

Alex Palou, a four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and the 2025 Indianapolis 500 winner, secured pole position with a four-lap average qualifying speed of 232.248 mph. This speed placed him more than a quarter of a mile per hour ahead of the second-place qualifier. Palou is seeking his second Indy 500 victory and a fifth IndyCar championship title, which would be his fourth in a row.

His 2026 season has already seen three victories at St. Petersburg, Barber, and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Palou currently holds a 27-point lead in the championship standings over Andretti Global Honda driver Kyle Kirkwood. Other Honda drivers starting near the front include Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing, who qualified fourth, and Kyffin Simpson of Chip Ganassi Racing, starting seventh.

Honda's Rich History at the Brickyard

Honda boasts a significant legacy at the Indianapolis 500, having accumulated 16 victories since its first win with Buddy Rice in 2004. Notable past Honda-powered winners include Dan Wheldon (2005, 2011), Sam Hornish Jr. (2007), Dario Franchitti (2007, 2012), Scott Dixon (2008), and Alexander Rossi (2016).

Helio Castroneves, who secured his record-tying fourth Indy 500 win in 2021 with Honda power, will be competing in the 2026 race. Castroneves is aiming for an unprecedented fifth victory, which would make him the sole record holder. Other former Indy 500 winners driving Honda-powered cars in this year's race include Marcus Ericsson (2022), Will Power (2018), and Takuma Sato (2017, 2020).

Acura Makes Indianapolis 500 Debut

For the first time, Acura branding will appear on an IndyCar at the Indianapolis 500. Marcus Armstrong will pilot the #66 Acura Meyer Shank Racing Honda, starting 16th after qualifying with a speed of 230.701 mph. While this marks Acura's debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in an IndyCar, the brand has a history in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, dating back to 1994 with Comptech Racing.

This appearance coincides with Acura's 40th anniversary, serving as an initiative to introduce the brand to a broader IndyCar audience. Earlier this season, Felix Rosenqvist achieved a pole position and a second-place finish at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in an Acura-sponsored Honda, highlighting the brand's recent successes in the series.

With a strong lineup of drivers, a rich history of success, and the new presence of Acura, Honda is well-positioned for a competitive showing at the 110th Indianapolis 500. Fans can anticipate an exciting race as Honda aims to add another victory to its impressive record.