Palou Wins Long Beach; Rosenqvist Secures Pole Position
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Long Beach, California — Alex Palou won the Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 19, 2026, driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to a 3.9663-second victory over Felix Rosenqvist. Rosenqvist had earned the pole on Saturday with a 1:07.463 lap in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura, leading the race for 51 laps before surrendering the lead.
The outcome moved Palou into the NTT IndyCar Series points lead, aided by a faster pit stop during the race's only caution. Teams and broadcasters, including FOX and INDYCAR Radio, scheduled postrace coverage Sunday evening; Meyer Shank Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing cited pit crew performance and strategy as decisive factors in immediate postrace comments.
More context
Timeline
- 1. April 18, 2026 — Qualifying: Felix Rosenqvist earned pole with a 1:07.463 lap.
- 2. April 18, 2026 — Meyer Shank Racing won an earlier IMSA WeatherTech race at Long Beach.
- 3. April 19, 2026 — Race day: Alex Palou started third and passed Pato O'Ward for second.
- 4. April 19, 2026 — A race caution prompted pit stops; Palou's crew executed a faster stop.
- 5. April 19, 2026 — Palou took the lead, won by 3.9663 seconds, and moved into the points lead.
Why it matters
If you're an IndyCar fan, this race reshuffles the points leaderboard. Palou's win puts him in the lead, making the season more exciting. Check the NTT IndyCar Series standings to stay updated.
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
