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Rosenqvist Sets Indy 500 Qualifying Record at 232.6 mph

5/18/2026

Summary

Rosenqvist Claims Pole

Felix Rosenqvist of Sweden posted a four-lap average of 232.599 mph, the fastest in qualifying for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 on May 17, 2026.
David Malukas (231.813 mph), Conor Daly (231.744 mph) and Scott McLaughlin (231.623 mph) made the Top 4, while Alex Palou qualified eleventh at 231.155 mph and Takuma Sato missed the shootout, finishing thirteenth with 230.576 mph.
The grid positions 13-33 were set and the Top 12 will run Sunday to decide the Fast Six pole battle.

Summary

Palou Seeks Repeat

Rain cancelled first day of Indy 500 qualifying, the first full-day loss since 2008.
Sunday’s schedule now features a 9:30 a.m. practice, noon qualifying, and a 12-car format with a top-six final at 4 p.m., after dropping the 15-car elimination rounds.
Teams will hold overnight strategy sessions as track temperatures climb to the mid-80s and surface heat tops 120 °F.
Defending champion Alex Palou targets a back-to-back win while Helio Castroneves pursues a historic fifth victory.

Summary

Chevrolet Investigates

Chevrolet announced it is investigating isolated engine issues that affected a few Chevrolet-powered entries during Friday’s practice.
The Fast Friday session recorded 836 incident-free laps while Jack Harvey logged 42 runs and a 232.124 mph time.
Felix Rosenqvist revealed he had just become a father following the birth of his first child.
Drivers noted the hybrid system lets them go “pretty advanced if you want that,” shaping their qualifying plans.

Summary

Acura Debuts Indy

Acura made its inaugural IndyCar appearance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2026, celebrating 40 years.
#66 Acura-branded Meyer Shank Racing Honda driven by Marcus Armstrong will compete in the 2026 Indianapolis 500.
Honda has secured 14 poles in 26 Indianapolis 500 races, most recently with Alex Palou in 2023, while posting four straight poles from 2020-2023.
Qualifying for the 110th Indianapolis 500 will air on FS2 beginning Saturday May 16 at 8:30 a.m.

History

Historical Context

After the 2008 rain-affected qualifying—where Ryan Briscoe posted a 224.883 mph run and Scott Dixon ultimately secured pole—the unified IndyCar era began following the 12-year split. The 2026 Indianapolis 500 faced the same spring rain, forcing officials to drop a qualifying day and adopt a 12-car shootout that includes Felix Rosenqvist and Acura’s debut. The recurring weather disruptions continue to reshape pole-day strategy for teams like Chevrolet and Honda.

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Rosenqvist Claims Pole

Felix Rosenqvist of Sweden posted a four-lap average of 232.599 mph, the fastest in qualifying for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 on May 17, 2026.
David Malukas (231.813 mph), Conor Daly (231.744 mph) and Scott McLaughlin (231.623 mph) made the Top 4, while Alex Palou qualified eleventh at 231.155 mph and Takuma Sato missed the shootout, finishing thirteenth with 230.576 mph.
The grid positions 13-33 were set and the Top 12 will run Sunday to decide the Fast Six pole battle.

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