2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Palou Takes Commanding Victory in Season Opener

Alex Palou delivered a commanding performance to win the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, leading 59 of 100 laps and crossing the line 12.4948 seconds ahead of the field for the largest margin of victory in the event's 23-year history.

The No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda driver started fourth and took control after the second caution on Lap 40, pulling away in the final 60 laps to notch his 20th career NTT IndyCar Series win and become the 24th driver in series history with at least 20 victories. It was also his second straight triumph on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit.

Scott McLaughlin finished second in the No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet after leading 34 laps from the pole. Christian Lundgaard completed the podium in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, leading one lap and delivering Arrow McLaren's second top-five finish of the day with Pato O'Ward fifth.

The race featured eight lead changes among seven drivers and two cautions for seven laps. The first yellow flew on Lap 1 when Sting Ray Robb and Santino Ferrucci made contact in Turn 4, collecting Mick Schumacher. All three continued after repairs. The second caution came on Lap 40 when Scott Dixon lost a wheel and went off course in Turn 4.

Palou credited flawless team execution and a strong Honda package. "This team has done it again here for this weekend," he said. "I had by far the best car today."

Crew chief Barry Wanser highlighted the bold tire call that paid off. "We took a big risk yesterday in the Firestone Fast Six to use one of those sets of reds… We went after the pole and didn't get it. We knew we were at a deficit… but it worked out."

McLaughlin maximized his day despite starting on primary tires. "I think we maximized our strategy," he said. "No mistakes. Pit road was great. Just good start."

Lundgaard was pleased with the recovery from a disappointing qualifying. "We simply just made a mistake in qualifying and we made up for it in the race," he noted. "To go out there and put the results on paper feels nice."

Josef Newgarden charged from 23rd to seventh, gaining a race-high 16 positions in the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet. Rookies showed solid pace with Dennis Hauger finishing 10th in the No. 19 Ault Block Chain Dale Coyne Racing Honda, Louis Foster 14th in the No. 45 Droplight Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, Caio Collet 17th in the No. 4 Combitrans Amazona AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet and Mick Schumacher 25th after the opening-lap incident.

The victory gives Palou an early championship lead as the series heads to Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, March 7. Chip Ganassi Racing now has 146 all-time NTT IndyCar Series wins.

With tire management and strategy playing major roles under the new rules requiring two sets of alternate tires, Palou's ability to stretch his stints proved decisive. The 2026 season is officially underway on the streets of St. Petersburg, and the four-time champion has set a commanding tone.

O'Ward Edges Palou in Tight St. Pete Warm-Up

Pato O'Ward led the 30-minute warm-up session for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with a 1:01.5944 lap in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, just 0.0018 seconds ahead of defending champion Alex Palou.

Palou turned a 1:01.5962 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, while Arrow McLaren's Christian Lundgaard placed third at 1:01.7964 in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon ran fourth at 1:01.8307 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda and Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood rounded the top five at 1:02.0062 in the No. 27 JM Bullion / Gold.com Honda.

The session ran green from 9:05 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. under overcast skies with an ambient temperature of 65 degrees and track surface at 69.3 degrees. All 25 cars participated.

Arrow McLaren showed strong form, placing three cars in the top six with Nolan Siegel sixth at 1:02.0818 in the No. 6 Chevrolet. Meyer Shank Racing's Felix Rosenqvist ran seventh at 1:02.1037 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda, followed by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Graham Rahal at 1:02.1477 in the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Honda.

Pole sitter Scott McLaughlin ended 25th at 1:03.5492 in the No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet. Front-row starter Marcus Ericsson placed 23rd at 1:03.1166 in the No. 28 Delaware Life Andretti Global Honda.

Rookies adapted to race trim with Dale Coyne Racing's Dennis Hauger 17th at 1:02.8354 in the No. 19 Ault Block Chain Honda, AJ Foyt Racing's Caio Collet 19th at 1:02.8964 in the No. 4 Combitrans Amazona Chevrolet, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Mick Schumacher 16th at 1:02.8157 in the No. 47 Rahal Honda.

McLaughlin's Practice 1 lap of 1:01.1020 remains the weekend's benchmark on the combined timesheet, but the tight warm-up gaps — top two separated by less than two-thousandths of a second — hint at a closely contested opener.

As teams finalize strategies, McLaughlin emphasized execution from qualifying. "It was nice to tune it up and get it right and then it become one of my favorite cars I've had around here," he said, reflecting on adjustments that could carry into the race.

Ericsson echoed the need for precision. "You've got to go out and execute and we did that today but we need to do it tomorrow," he noted post-qualifying, underscoring the competitive field.

With tire management, pit strategy and hybrid deployment key factors, the 2026 season kicks off on the demanding streets of St. Petersburg.

McLaughlin Captures Back-to-Back Poles for Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Scott McLaughlin secured the NTT P1 Award for the 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg with a 1:00.5426 lap in the Firestone Fast Six, earning his second consecutive pole at the venue and 12th career pole in the NTT IndyCar Series.

The No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet driver edged Andretti Global's Marcus Ericsson by 0.0195 seconds at 1:00.5621 in the No. 28 Delaware Life Andretti Global Honda. Dale Coyne Racing rookie Dennis Hauger impressed with third at 1:00.5743 in the No. 19 Ault Block Chain Dale Coyne Racing Honda, marking the first Firestone Fast Six appearance for a rookie in his debut since Christian Lundgaard in 2021.

Defending champion Alex Palou qualified fourth at 1:00.6842 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, followed by Team Penske's David Malukas at 1:00.7638 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. Dale Coyne Racing's Romain Grosjean rounded the top six at 1:01.3462 in the No. 18 BMax Dale Coyne Racing Honda.

Qualifying unfolded under fair skies with an ambient temperature of 80 degrees and track surface at 94.3 degrees. Segment 1 divided the field into two groups, each with 10 minutes.

Group 1 saw Ericsson lead at 1:00.8257, advancing with Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward at 1:00.9405, Dale Coyne Racing's Grosjean at 1:01.0324, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Louis Foster at 1:01.0525, McLaughlin at 1:01.0575 and Meyer Shank Racing's Felix Rosenqvist at 1:01.1240 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda.

Group 2 was paced by Malukas at 1:00.5799, with Palou second at 1:00.6142. Meyer Shank Racing's Marcus Armstrong advanced third at 1:00.7559 in the No. 66 ROOT Insurance Honda, followed by Hauger at 1:00.8814, Arrow McLaren's Lundgaard at 1:01.0716 and Chip Ganassi Racing's Kyffin Simpson at 1:01.1706 in the No. 8 Sunoco Honda.

Segment 2 brought the 12 advancers together for 10 minutes. McLaughlin topped at 1:00.5434, advancing to the Fast Six with Palou at 1:00.5807, Ericsson at 1:00.6237, Hauger at 1:00.6401, Malukas at 1:00.6481 and Grosjean at 1:00.7452. A penalty for causing a local yellow in Turn 10 cost Grosjean his best lap to that point, but he still progressed.

The Firestone Fast Six delivered a tight battle, with the top four separated by 0.1416 seconds. McLaughlin reflected on early struggles, noting adjustments transformed his car.

"We were firing springs in the thing and front wing changes and everything," he said. "We threw the kitchen sink at it between Q1 and Q2, made it a little bit better through Q2, scraped into the Fast Six, and then it was just a matter of executing for the Fast Six."

Ericsson celebrated his front-row start as a strong rebound from 2025. "All weekend it's been strong, but to go out in qualifying and do that through all the segments and put it on the front row feels really, really good," he said. He emphasized execution for the race, adding, "The field this year in INDYCAR is the toughest field, the most competitive field ever in my opinion. There's no bad drivers, no bad teams. You've got to go out and execute, and we did that today, but we need to do it tomorrow."

McLaughlin's pole continues Team Penske's dominance at St. Pete, where the team has claimed 11 victories. With a stacked grid and tight margins, the race promises intense battles from the green flag at noon on FOX.

Lundgaard Leads Practice 2 as Cooler Conditions Shake Up St. Petersburg Times

Christian Lundgaard topped Practice 2 for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, posting a 1:01.6157 lap in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet to lead the session under cooler, overcast skies.

The Danish driver's time came in the final Group A segment, edging Meyer Shank Racing's Marcus Armstrong by 0.0435 seconds at 1:01.6592 in the No. 66 Honda. Defending champion Alex Palou ran third at 1:01.6947 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, while Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood placed fourth at 1:01.7382 in the No. 27 JM Bullion / Gold.com Honda.

The 64-minute session — split into a 40-minute all-car portion followed by 12-minute Group B and Group A runs — unfolded in markedly different conditions from Friday's warmer Practice 1. Ambient temperature sat at 69 degrees with 96 percent humidity and a track surface of 73 degrees, contributing to quicker overall pace in some segments despite three red flags.

Will Power's No. 26 TWG AI Andretti Global Honda made contact with the barrier in Turn 10 at 9:50 a.m., triggering the first stoppage. Power climbed out without assistance, and INDYCAR medical director Dr. Julia Vaizer confirmed he was seen and released from the medical unit. The Australian driver did not post a timed lap.

Juncos Hollinger Racing's Rinus VeeKay set the fastest time in the all-car segment at 1:01.9918 in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet. Ed Carpenter Racing's Christian Rasmussen spun and contacted the wall in Turn 1 at 10:13 a.m., damaging the nosecone of his No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet before climbing out unaided. The final red flag came at 10:28 a.m. when AJ Foyt Enterprises' Caio Collet stopped in the Turn 1 runoff with damage to his No. 4 Combitrans Amazona Chevrolet.

Group B (which ran first after the all-car portion) saw Kirkwood lead at 1:01.7382. Group A delivered Lundgaard's session-best, with Armstrong second and Palou third. Arrow McLaren placed three cars in the top 12, including Pato O'Ward eighth at 1:01.9473 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet and Nolan Siegel 12th at 1:02.0533 in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

Combined across both days, Scott McLaughlin's Practice 1 Group B lap of 1:01.1020 remained the weekend's benchmark, followed by Felix Rosenqvist at 1:01.1660.

Rookies continued to show progress. Dale Coyne Racing's Dennis Hauger placed 13th in Practice 2 at 1:02.0601 in the No. 19 Ault Block Chain Dale Coyne Racing Honda. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Mick Schumacher ended 22nd at 1:02.9071 in the No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, while Collet's incident limited him to 23rd at 1:03.4617 in the No. 4.

With potential rain in Saturday's forecast, teams now have limited time to lock in setups before the NTT P1 Award battle. Lundgaard's pace signals Arrow McLaren's strength, but the combined timesheet shows the field remains tightly bunched as the 2026 season opener approaches.

McLaughlin Tops Incident-Filled Practice 1 at St. Pete

Scott McLaughlin set the pace in an eventful opening practice session for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, firing a late lap of 1:01.1020 to lead the combined field.

The No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet driver edged Meyer Shank Racing's Felix Rosenqvist by 0.0640 seconds as teams navigated a 40-minute all-car segment followed by split-group runs. McLaughlin's effort came amid five red flags, including spins and contact that disrupted the flow on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit.

All 25 cars turned laps in the opening 40 minutes, where McLaughlin topped the charts at 1:01.5793. Defending series champion Alex Palou slotted second at 1:01.6942 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, and Team Penske's David Malukas impressed in his debut with the team, running third at 1:01.7268.

Incidents started early with a red flag at 1:41 p.m. for debris, followed by another at 1:51 p.m. when Ed Carpenter Racing's Alexander Rossi spun in Turn 4. The most notable stoppage came at 2:02 p.m. when two-time St. Pete winner Josef Newgarden made contact with the tire barrier in Turn 13. Newgarden, who ended 14th overall at 1:01.7816, attributed the mishap to an experimental setup on his No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet.

"I would say it's more setup-related for us," Newgarden said. "We tried something different on our car, and I just got loose to the corner. It's pretty simple as that. Nothing on the track. It wasn't anything track-related."

Newgarden described the session as mixed for Team Penske, highlighting positives like teammate McLaughlin's pace at the front and Malukas' strong showing. "Obviously Scottie was quick up front, and David looked good," he added. "I think there's enough to draw from for us at Team Penske that would be positive."

The all-car portion wrapped at 2:17 p.m., paving the way for Group A, which included rookies. Chip Ganassi Racing's Kyffin Simpson surprised by leading the 12-minute run at 1:01.1782, just 0.0762 seconds off McLaughlin's overall best. Palou ran second in the group at 1:01.2614, followed by Meyer Shank Racing's Marcus Armstrong at 1:01.3035.

Group A saw its own interruption at 2:34 p.m. when Scott Dixon made contact in Turn 9, sustaining damage to the nose and left side of his No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. The six-time champion, who will make his record-extending 420th series start Sunday, ended 12th in the group and 15th overall at 1:01.7999.

Group B opened at 2:46 p.m., with McLaughlin's flyer coming midway through. Rosenqvist ran second at 1:01.1660 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Meyer Shank Racing Honda, while Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood took third at 1:01.1777 in the No. 27 JM Bullion / Gold.com Andretti Global Honda. Marcus Ericsson followed at 1:01.1967 in the No. 28 Delaware Life Andretti Global Honda, and Juncos Hollinger Racing's Rinus VeeKay rounded the top five at 1:01.5444 in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet.

The final red flag flew at 2:49 p.m. when Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Louis Foster contacted the barrier in Turn 13. Foster, who ended 22nd overall at 1:02.1520 in the No. 45 Droplight Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, managed only one lap in the group.

Dale Coyne Racing's Romain Grosjean, returning to full-time competition after a partial 2025 schedule, placed 13th overall at 1:01.7537 in the No. 18 BMax Dale Coyne Racing Honda. Grosjean noted early radio issues but expressed satisfaction with the team's engineering depth.

"The engineering group is great," he said. "Mitch Davis, Bill Pappas, Mike—they have a lot of experience. There's zero doubt about that. There's a lot of input."

Grosjean highlighted the session's intensity as a reminder of IndyCar's demands. "This morning there's a lot going on," he added. "We had a bit of a radio issue which didn't help us out there. INDYCAR is very competitive, and it's very tough to be fast, and those tracks don't let you make a mistake, which is the beauty of it but also very stressful."

Rookies Dennis Hauger, Caio Collet and Mick Schumacher showed varying results in their first NTT IndyCar Series laps on the streets of St. Petersburg. Hauger placed 17th overall at 1:01.8680 in the No. 19 Ault Block Chain Dale Coyne Racing Honda, while Collet ended 24th at 1:02.2576 in the No. 4 Combitrans Amazona AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet. Schumacher finished 23rd at 1:02.1707 in the No. 47 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda.

With weather forecasts calling for possible rain Saturday, teams face uncertainty heading into Practice 2 at 9:35 a.m. and qualifying at 4:35 p.m. Newgarden remained optimistic despite the disruptions. "We're off and going now, which is great," he said. "Hopefully the weather holds out tomorrow."

The session underscored the tight competition expected in 2026, with the top 10 separated by just 0.4215 seconds. As the field refines setups overnight, the battle for the NTT P1 Award looms large on the streets of St. Petersburg.