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Rosenqvist Leads Qualifying; Palou Secures Indianapolis 500 Pole

PUBLISHED May 17, 2026, 4:23 PM ET

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Indianapolis — On Sunday, Felix Rosenqvist posted the fastest four-lap average (232.599 mph) in the first round of Indianapolis 500 qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, advancing to the semifinals scheduled later that day; heavy rain had earlier forced the cancellation of the initial qualification day, the first full-day loss since 2008. The semifinals later on Sunday will determine six drivers who will vie for the pole for next Sunday's sold-out May 24 race; Alex Palou later secured the pole with a four-lap average of 232.248 mph and will start on the front row with Alexander Rossi and David Malukas, while Katherine Legge qualified 27th as she pursues the Indianapolis–Charlotte double.

By James Porter | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Heavy rain canceled the first scheduled Indianapolis 500 qualifying day, the first such full-day loss since 2008.
Sunday first-round qualifying: Felix Rosenqvist posted the top four-lap average at 232.599 mph.
David Malukas (231.813) and Conor Daly (231.744) finished second and third in the first round;
Semifinals were scheduled later Sunday to determine six drivers for the pole shootout for next Sunday's race.
Alex Palou later won the pole with a 232.248 mph average, placing him on the front row for the May 24 race.

News Intelligence

This year's Indianapolis 500 is shaping up to be a thrilling event. If you're a fan, you'll want to keep an eye on Alex Palou, who secured the pole position. Also, watch for Katherine Legge, who's attempting the Indianapolis–Charlotte double. Check your local listings for race times.

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Who Benefited

Front-row qualifiers such as Alex Palou and teams with strong qualifying results benefited through improved starting position, enhanced race-strategy options for the May 24 Indianapolis 500, and increased visibility for sponsors and team partners.

Who Impacted

Drivers and teams who lost time to weather delays or failed to advance to later qualifying rounds suffered reduced opportunities to secure favorable starting positions and had less practice data heading into the race weekend.

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