Palou Finds Pace and Captures Second Indy 500 Pole

2025 Indianapolis 500 winner Alex Palou celebrates with his team after capturing his second career Indy pole ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Photo: Anthony Sylvia | The Podium Finish).

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – If you could start anywhere on the 33-car grid to defend your Indianapolis 500 victory from a year ago, there’s no better place than the pole position. A starting position that has seen a winner 21 times.

That’s exactly what 2025 winner Alex Palou did as he threw down a blistering four-lap average speed of 232.248 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to claim his second-career NTT P1 Award for the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

“I have no words,” said Palou. “So, that was incredible. It just feels incredible. Great start to the Month of May.”

The four-time NTT IndyCar Series champion will have a pair of hungry American drivers starting alongside on the front row, 2016 champion Alexander Rossi with his best qualifying effort in his 11^th career start at Indy with a four-lap average of 231.990 in the No. 20 Java House ECR Chevrolet, and David Malukas also earning his best career Indy 500 start in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet with a four-lap average speed of 231.877 mph.

Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist turned heads in the Firestone Fast 12 by laying down a speed of 232.599 mph that put him as an early favorite to capture the pole but ultimately ended the Firestone Fast Six with a fourth-best four-lap average of 231.375 mph in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian.

“It’s a shame,” said Rosenqvist. “It’s kind of déjà vu for me. I’ve had this three times now when I’ve gone into the last round and had to finish it off. It’s kind of like a curse. But is what it is. We’ll just focus on the race.”

Pato O’Ward on a flyer lap during NTT IndyCar Fast 12 qualifying for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Photo: Anthony Sylvia | The Podium Finish).

Always a strong bet come race day is A.J. Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci who qualified fifth with a four-lap average of 230.846 in the No. 14 HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS Chevrolet with fan-favorite Pato O’Ward rounding out the Fast Six at 230.442 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

With off and on rain all day that ultimately canceled Day 1 of PPG Armed Forces Qualifying on Saturday, Sunday brought the highest temps of the month and an adjusted schedule that scrapped the Fast 15  round that allowed drivers to only make one attempt to set a lap good enough for the Fast 12, which led to action-packed drama that encompassed all the excitement and prestige that Indy delivers.

After qualifying wrapped up, the drama wasn’t over at the Racing Capitol of the World. After post-qualifying technical inspections, IndyCar officials found the entries of No. 4 A.J. Foyt Racing and No. 24 of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing to be out of compliance with modifications to the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and A-arm mounting points with unapproved hardware. Both cars have their qualifying speeds disallowed and are re-ordered to the rear of the field for Sunday’s 110^th running of the Indianapolis 500.

The series will have a short two-hour practice session on Monday following qualifying that will lead into race weekend that kicks off with Carb Day on Friday, May 22 as teams prepare for one last practice session before the big race.

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