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Palou Tops Standings as IndyCar Arrives at Gateway Night Race

Bookmakers favor David Malukas, a contrast that highlights how single-race odds differ from Palou’s season-long form.

Overview

  • Alex Palou leads the 2026 NTT IndyCar championship with four wins and a 62-point margin over Kyle Kirkwood and a 79-point cushion over David Malukas.
  • The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway is race nine and the official midpoint of the 18-race season and will run Sunday night in a 9:00 p.m. ET prime-time window with most laps in darkness.
  • DraftKings Sportsbook lists David Malukas as the pre-race favorite at 14/5, showing that betting markets favor short-term performance over the season standings.
  • Team Penske will run a Marlboro-style throwback livery on Scott McLaughlin’s car with DEX Imaging listed as sponsor, a promotional move that will stand out under the lights.
  • Speculative reports say Josef Newgarden may seek a move away from Penske next season and his past strength at Gateway — five wins since 2017 though none since 2024 — makes the race a key stage for any momentum shift.