Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Palou Opens 2026 IndyCar With Record St. Petersburg Win

A decisive overcut on alternate tires put the champion in clean air.

Overview

  • Starting fourth, Alex Palou jumped to the front with an early overcut, led 62 of 100 laps, and won by 12.4948 seconds, the largest margin in the event’s history.
  • Pole-sitter Scott McLaughlin led 34 laps but settled for second as Palou’s late stint on primary tires maintained a clear advantage.
  • Christian Lundgaard rose from 12th to third for Arrow McLaren, overtaking Marcus Ericsson and teammate Pato O’Ward to secure the final podium spot.
  • IndyCar’s requirement to run two alternate stints and one primary, coupled with Firestone’s ENLITEN compounds, shaped strategy and tire management throughout the race.
  • Josef Newgarden climbed from 23rd to seventh thanks to rapid pit stops, while an opening-lap crash retired Santino Ferrucci and rookie Mick Schumacher and brought a penalty for Sting Ray Robb.