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Alex Palou Takes Fifth Straight Pole at Road America

Tying a streak not seen since 1988, Palou’s pole puts a premium on tire choice and pit strategy to decide whether starting first becomes another victory.

Overview

  • Palou secured pole at Road America on Saturday with a 1:43.6615 lap that was 0.2927 seconds faster than David Malukas.
  • The Firestone Fast Six finished with Palou first, Malukas second, Marcus Armstrong third, Felix Rosenqvist fourth, Marcus Ericsson fifth, and Scott McLaughlin sixth.
  • The pole is Palou’s fifth consecutive and his sixth of the season, a run matched in IndyCar only by Danny Sullivan’s 1988 streak.
  • Palou is the reigning four-time series champion and current points leader, and his recent Detroit win from pole showed how late pit calls and tire choices can flip race results.
  • Qualifying included a near-miss when Romain Grosjean exited the pits in the path of Will Power, and Sunday’s 55-lap XPEL Grand Prix will start at 2 p.m. ET on FOX where strategy will shape the outcome.