Álex Palou on pole Indy 500

Álex Palou will start the 110th Indianapolis 500 from pole after winning the NTT P1 Award on May 17 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver, who won the race in 2025, posted a four-lap average of 232.248 mph in the Firestone Fast Six to earn his second career Indy 500 pole, according to IndyCar. Josef Newgarden then set the pace in final practice on Friday, while Alexander Rossi returned to the track after a multi-car crash earlier in the week. The race is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, at 12:30 p.m. ET at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. ### How did Palou get to the front of the grid? Álex Palou earned pole with a 232.248-mph four-lap average in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, IndyCar said. The pole was the second of his Indy 500 career after 2023, and IndyCar said he became the only Spanish driver to win the race’s pole position. Alexander Rossi will start alongside Palou on the front row after qualifying second at 231.990 mph, with David Malukas third at 231.877 mph, according to IndyCar. (indycar.com) That put Palou at the front of a grid that includes nine former winners and four rookies in the 33-car field, the Indianapolis Star reported. ### Why is Newgarden part of the pre-race conversation? (indycar.com) Josef Newgarden was fastest in Miller Lite Carb Day final practice on May 22 with a top lap of 225.687 mph, Indianapolis Motor Speedway said. The Team Penske driver is trying to become the first driver to win three straight Indianapolis 500s, and the speed chart from the last full practice session added another data point before race day. (indycar.com) Indianapolis Motor Speedway said Newgarden will start 23rd on Sunday despite leading final practice. That gap between practice speed and starting position leaves one of the race’s recent winners deeper in traffic when the green flag drops. ### What happened to Rossi this week? (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) Alexander Rossi returned to activity on Carb Day after a May 18 crash in Turn 2 that also involved Pato O’Ward and Romain Grosjean, Indianapolis Motor Speedway said. Rossi, the 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner, is set to race with a carbon-fiber brace on his injured right ankle, according to IndyCar’s paddock coverage highlighted on its site. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) Friday’s return mattered because Rossi had already qualified on the front row before the crash. His recovery kept one of the race’s former winners in a prominent starting spot heading into Sunday. ### How deep is this year’s field? The Indianapolis Star reported that the 33-driver field includes 12 Americans, nine former race winners and four rookies. (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) IndyCar’s field notes also said Palou is the only former pole winner in this year’s lineup and identified the event as the 110th running of the race. (indycar.com) WTHR reported the race will cover 200 laps on the 2.5-mile oval for 500 miles. That distance, plus a field with multiple former winners and recent champions, sets the stage for Sunday’s start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (indystar.com) ### When is the race and where can viewers follow it? The 110th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, at 12:30 p.m. ET, according to Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar coverage. Fox is carrying the race broadcast, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s race hub lists the final pre-race updates from Carb Day and the starting field. (wthr.com) Sunday’s grid will put Palou on pole, Rossi and Malukas on the front row, and Newgarden starting 23rd after leading the final practice session. (indycar.com) (sports.yahoo.com)