Palou Leads Opening Indy 500 Practice

Defending Indianapolis 500 winner Alex Palou putting in laps during Indy 500 practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 12, 2026. (Photo: Anthony Sylvia | The Podium Finish)

INDIANAPOLIS – Just as he did last week in the two practice sessions for the Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, reigning Indianapolis 500 champion and four-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou set the pace once again as he aims to go back-to-back in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.

Palou set the quick lap of 225.937 mph with 15 minutes remaining in the six-hour opening practice session in preparation for the 110^th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

“We had a couple of issues, but we fixed them,” said Palou. “It wasn’t a mechanical issue or anything. It was just balance, not being super happy with it. We found something that explained what I was feeling, and it was good to go back out today before we go to sleep so we can be a bit happier.”

Despite turning the fastest lap of the day, Palou was in the bottom three in total laps ran on the day. Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong held the top spot for the majority of the session with a lap of 225.895 mph in the No. 66 Acura Honda.

Conor Daly shows speed on opening day of Indianapolis 500 practice on May 12, 2026, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo: Anthony Sylvia | The Podium Finish)

Hometown favorite from nearby Noblesville, Indiana, Conor Daly, clocked in at third fastest with a lap of 225.838 in the No. 23 KINGSPAN Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet. Daly will be making his 13^th start at Indy and is riding a four-race steak of top 10 finishes in the Indy 500.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden clocked in the fourth fastest lap of 225.121 mph in the No. 2 Shell Fuel Rewards Team Penske Chevrolet.

The story of Indy 500 practice sessions is the tale of “tow” vs “no-tow” speeds. The majority of top speeds in each session come from an aero draft of a leading car. The tell-tale sign of a car’s true speed comes from the no-tow speed chart. Of those drivers, Kyle Kirkwood was the fastest with a lap of 222.062 mph in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Andretti Global Honda, with his teammate Will Power close behind with a lap of 221.455 mph in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda.

On the day, all 33 drivers turned laps that totaled 1,996 laps with Alexander Rossi turning the most laps (116) in the No. 20 Java House ECR Chevrolet.

Practice will continue through Friday, May 15, as teams prepare for PPG Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17.

Results: