Felix Rosenqvist navigates the streets of Long Beach, claiming his first pole of 2026 for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. (Photo: Penske Entertainment | Chris Owens)
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach has been kind to Meyer Shank Racing in recent history, especially to Felix Rosenqvist.
It was Long Beach 2024 the last time Rosenqvist took the top spot in qualifying. History repeated itself in 2026, as Rosenqvist grabbed his first NTT P1 Award in two years for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing.
“It’s been a tough start to the year,” said Rosenqvist. “We said we wanted to do a little bounce back here, so we did.”
The MSR team is looking for the weekend sweep and to ride off into the sunset singing “California Dreamin’” after taking the win in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race earlier Saturday.
Rosenqvist’s former teammate at Arrow McLaren, Pato O’Ward, will start alongside his good friend after a lap of 1:07.5076 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Alex Palou driving through the fountain area on the streets of Long Beach during practice for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. (Photo: Penske Entertainment | Joe Skibinsk)
Last week’s winner at Barber and reigning four-time series champion Alex Palou will start Sunday’s race third after a lap of 1:07.5289 in the No. 10 OpenAI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Defending Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach winner Kyle Kirkwood will roll off fourth in the No. 27 JM Bullion/Gold.com Andretti Global Honda, as he aims to extend his points lead in a competitive start to the 2026 series campaign.
Team Penske’s newest driver, David Malukas, will start fifth in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet after a lap of 1:07.6508, with six-time series champion Scott Dixon rounding out the Firestone Fast Six with a lap of 1:07.8566 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Honda.
The smooth Swede, Rosenqvist, earned his seventh career pole during the revamped street-course qualifying format that debuted in Arlington, where each driver in the Fast Six receives one solo lap to post their best time.
“That was nerve-wracking to watch,” said Rosenqvist. “My old buddy Pato—that was close. That was a good lap. Pretty lost for words.”
The green flag for the 90-lap Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET on FOX, IndyCar Radio, and IndyCar Nation SiriusXM Channel 218.
Results:
| Start | Car No. | Driver | Sponsor/Team/Make |
| 1 | 60 | Felix Rosenqvist | SiriusXM / Meyer Shank Racing / Honda |
| 2 | 5 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow McLaren / Chevrolet |
| 3 | 10 | Alex Palou | OpenAI / Chip Ganassi Racing / Honda |
| 4 | 27 | Kyle Kirkwood | JM Bullion / Andretti Global / Honda |
| 5 | 12 | David Malukas | Verizon / Team Penske / Chevrolet |
| 6 | 9 | Scott Dixon | PNC Bank / Chip Ganassi Racing / Honda |
| 7 | 26 | Will Power | TWG AI / Andretti Global / Honda |
| 8 | 3 | Scott McLaughlin | AAA / Team Penske / Chevrolet |
| 9 | 8 | Kyffin Simpson | Sunoco / Chip Ganassi Racing / Honda |
| 10 | 15 | Graham Rahal | One Cure / RLL / Honda |
| 11 | 7 | Christian Lundgaard | Velo / McLaren / Chevrolet |
| 12 | 76 | Rinus VeeKay | ARCO / JHR / Chevrolet |
| 13 | 66 | Marcus Armstrong | ReMax / Meyer Shank Racing / Honda |
| 14 | 2 | Josef Newgarden | Astemo / Team Penske / Chevrolet |
| 15 | 28 | Marcus Ericsson | Allegra / Andretti Global / Honda |
| 16 | 21 | Christian Rasmussen | Liquid Science / ECR / Chevrolet |
| 17 | 45 | Louis Foster | Desnuda / RLL / Honda |
| 18 | 20 | Alexander Rossi | Liquid Science / ECR / Chevrolet |
| 19 | 19 | Dennis Hauger | Nammo / Dale Coyne Racing / Honda |
| 20 | 4 | Caio Collet | Combitrans / A.J. Foyt Racing / Chevrolet |
| 21 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | Liquid Death / RLL / Honda |
| 22 | 14 | Santino Ferrucci | HFOT.org / A.J. Foyt Racing / Chevrolet |
| 23 | 18 | Romain Grosjean | BMAX.IO / Dale Coyne Racing / Honda |
| 24 | 77 | Sting Ray Robb | Goodheart / JHR / Chevrolet |
| 25 | 6 | Nolan Siegel | SmartShop / McLaren / Chevrolet |
