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Alex Palou Takes Indy 500 Pole With Late Fast Six Run

He becomes the first defending winner to start from pole since 2010.

Overview

  • Palou secured the pole Sunday with a 232.248 mph four-lap average, with Alexander Rossi second and David Malukas third to complete the front row.
  • Following Saturday’s rainout, all qualifying rounds ran in hotter Sunday conditions, compressing the knockout format and forcing rapid setup changes.
  • Felix Rosenqvist set the day’s early benchmark at 232.599 mph, then slipped to fourth after his Fast Six run averaged 231.375 mph.
  • Katherine Legge qualified 27th and plans to run the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on May 24, which would make her the first woman to complete the 1,100-mile Double.
  • Several established names will start deeper in the field, including two-time winner Josef Newgarden in 24th and points rival Kyle Kirkwood in 26th.