Alex Palou pole at Indy 500 today

Alex Palou will lead the field to green for the 110th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24, after winning pole for the race a week earlier. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver is the defending Indianapolis 500 winner and a four-time IndyCar series champion, and he arrives at Indianapolis Motor Speedway chasing a second straight win in the event. Forecasts for Sunday called for rain and thunderstorms in Indianapolis, adding uncertainty to the day’s schedule. Katherine Legge’s plan to race both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 later Sunday also depended on how the weather unfolded. ### How did Alex Palou end up on pole for race day? Alex Palou secured pole on May 17 with a four-lap average speed of 232.248 mph in the Firestone Fast Six, according to Indianapolis Motor Speedway and race coverage published this week. That put him at the front of the 33-car grid for Sunday’s race, ahead of Alexander Rossi and David Malukas on the front row. Indianapolis Motor Speedway said Palou became the first reigning Indy 500 winner to win the pole for the following year’s race since Helio Castroneves in 2010. Fox Sports and local Indianapolis outlets also noted that it was Palou’s second Indy 500 pole after 2023. ### What is Palou trying to do this season? Palou won the 2025 Indianapolis 500 and has already won four IndyCar championships, according to IndyStar and race preview coverage. Fox59 said he is seeking a fifth series title in 2026 while trying to repeat at Indianapolis. The Indianapolis 500 has been one of the few milestones that came later in Palou’s career than his championships. His 2025 victory gave him his first win in the race, and Sunday offers a chance to add a second straight Indianapolis title from the most favorable starting position on the grid. ### Who starts near him, and why does that matter? Alexander Rossi and David Malukas will join Palou on the front row, based on the published starting grid. Rossi is a past Indy 500 winner, and Malukas gives the front row a second strong oval qualifier alongside Palou. Helio Castroneves is also in the field, and Fox59 highlighted him among the race’s veteran names. The 33-car lineup includes nine past winners, according to CBS Sports’ race preview, which framed Sunday’s field as one of the deeper recent editions of the event. ### What is the weather risk on Sunday? USA Today and Yahoo Sports both reported that rain and thunderstorms were in the forecast for Indianapolis on race day. Yahoo said the race window opened at 12:30 p.m. ET, while another Sunday race-day schedule listed the green flag for 12:45 p.m. ET after pre-race ceremonies. Weather matters at Indianapolis because any delay can compress the day’s schedule and affect broadcast timing, pre-race events and travel plans for drivers with other commitments. The Indianapolis 500 is run outdoors on a 2.5-mile oval, and rain stops on-track activity. ### Why is Katherine Legge part of the race-day story? Katherine Legge is attempting “the Double” on Sunday, meaning she is scheduled to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. USA Today described the plan as a 1,100-mile day split between Indianapolis and Charlotte. Yahoo Sports said the same weather threat hanging over Indianapolis could complicate that attempt. Any significant delay at Indianapolis Motor Speedway could tighten or disrupt Legge’s travel window between the two races. ### What should readers watch for once the race begins? Fox is carrying the race on Sunday, May 24, from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with pre-race coverage beginning before the scheduled start window. The official starting grid lists Palou on pole, with Rossi and Malukas beside him and 30 more drivers behind them. Sunday’s next milestone is the start itself: driver introductions are scheduled before the race, and the 200-lap event is set to begin in the early afternoon if weather allows. Palou, Rossi, Malukas, Castroneves and Legge are among the names at the center of the opening hours.