Overview
- Starting fourth, Palou executed an early overcut, led 59 of 100 laps and secured his 20th career victory in his 99th start by 12.4948 seconds.
- Polesitter Scott McLaughlin finished second after leading 34 laps, with Christian Lundgaard charging from 12th to take third.
- The 2026 requirement to run two alternate-tire stints and one on primaries, coupled with Firestone’s grippier ENLITEN alternates and notable falloff, made pit timing and tire management decisive.
- Josef Newgarden rebounded from 23rd on the grid to seventh through rapid pit stops and well-managed alternate-tire stints.
- An opening-lap Turn 4 crash eliminated Santino Ferrucci and rookie Mick Schumacher and earned Sting Ray Robb an avoidable-contact penalty, while a separate loose-wheel issue ended Scott Dixon’s bid and triggered the second caution.