Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 is usually a slow burn, but the weather turned the 2026 edition into a sprint. After rain washed out Saturday’s running, Sunday became “Super Sunday.” Teams and drivers had one afternoon for a one‑shot, four‑lap average speed run. The entire grid was decided in a single, ever-evolving day.
Sunday Qualifying: One Day, One Shot
Scott Dixon was first out with a cooler track. The CGR veteran rolled out on a track he later called “slick”, dealing with crosswinds in the short shoot between Turns Three and Four. His 231.411mph average was tidy rather than spectacular. But it was an early marker that stood for some time.
From there, teams’ hybrid strategies varied. Some teams kept deployment conservative, trying to save their tires over the run. Others went looking for a headline first lap and hoped tire degradation would not destroy their average. Rinus VeeKay was one of the first to lean on the system. He used the hybrid hard on the straights to clock a 232.2mph opener. His average faded to 229.5mph as the car started sliding mid‑corner. Scott McLaughlin briefly stole the show with a 232.4mph first lap and a top speed around 242mph down the back straight. His average slipped to 230.5mph once the tires died on him.
Felix Rosenqvist then reset expectations entirely. His first Super Sunday run delivered four laps all in the 232s for a 232.599mph average. Rosneqvist described the No. 60 as a “rocket” after he stayed glued to the track while others wrestled with their cars. In many years, that sort of run would have been enough to lock out pole. However, on Super Sunday, it was only the start of an interesting day.
The heat and timing made the session brutal. Track temperature edged past 110 degrees as the afternoon wore on. A few tenths lost over four laps became the difference between the Fast 12 and a midfield starting spot. Some of the biggest surprises came from the series’ heavy hitters. Josef Newgarden could only manage a 230.165mph average for P24. While Will Power ended up P20 on 230.279mph, despite calling it a better run than he had expected. Andretti’s struggles were clear today. Kyle Kirkwood was down in P26, and no Andretti car progressed to the Top 12 at all.
At the other end of the grid, the lack of bumping changed the tone. With only thirty‑three entries for thirty‑three spots, there was no traditional Bump Day drama. Mick Schumacher’s first Indianapolis 500 start was never really in doubt. Despite some social media posts that tried to present his simple qualification as a shock. He will line up P28 after a steady 229.450mph run. Sting Ray Robb completed the field and starts the 500 from P33.
Top 12: Finding the Fast 6
After a two-hour break, the top dozen drivers that were still in the hunt for the Firestone Fast 6 took center stage. Kyffin Simpson set an early benchmark with a 230.883mph average. He utilized the hybrid out of Turn Two and a brief regen into Turn Three to keep his average up over his four laps.
Alex Palou soon showed why CGR had been confident. Using an unusual deployment pattern, he put together a 231.665mph average that moved him to the top of the pile. Behind him, Santino Ferrucci and Pato O’Ward hovered just over 231mph. O’Ward described his run as “pretty shit to be honest,” even as he made his way into the top half of the group.
The real shake‑up came at the end. David Malukas muscled his way in with a 231.486mph average run. Malukas kept his hands busy on the wheel as he pipped Conor Daly out of a Fast 6 chance. Rosenqvist then doubled down on his earlier pace. He reeled off laps of 232.325, 232.127, 231.791, and 232.017mph for a 232.065mph average. By the time the dust settled, Rosenqvist, Palou, Malukas, Ferrucci, O’Ward, and Alexander Rossi were the six left standing.
Firestone Fast 6: Palou Takes Pole
By the time the Firestone Fast 6 began, the sun was dropping. The shadows were lengthening over the Yard of Bricks, and there was one thing for the drivers to do. Use their next four laps to set the first two rows of the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
Rossi was first to show his hand. He deployed out of Turns Three and Four on his opening laps. Rossi put in a 232.568mph first tour, followed by 232.038mph on his second. The remaining laps dipped into the high 231s. This was rough to watch since Fox appeared to have issues with its timing and broadcast display (yet again). The resulting 231.990mph average gave everyone a clear target and underlined how much speed Rossi had found over the day.
O’Ward and Ferrucci could not quite catch that pace. Malukas came closest, slotting in just 0.1mph behind Rossi. Palou was next. He attacked from the first lap, delivering a 232.848mph opener that looked like it might be too aggressive in the conditions, then backed it up with 232.347mph, 231.845mph, and 231.955mph to seal a 232.248mph average. Rosenqvist was last to run and the favorite after his earlier efforts. He could only respond with 231.375mph as his car finally started to slide in the corners. Felix could only manage P4 behind Palou, Rossi, and Malukas.
When the session ended, Palou was on pole. Rossi and Malukas completed the front row alongside him. Rosenqvist, Ferrucci, and O’Ward made a strong second row in the 500’s traditional three‑wide starting formation.
More Still to Come
Super Sunday decided where everyone will start, but it did not end the work. Teams still have two key chances to tune their cars. Monday’s Practice 7 and Friday’s traditional Carb Day sessions still lie ahead. Whatever they learn, though, the grid is locked. When the field of thirty‑three rolls away next Sunday, it will do so in the order Super Sunday laid out.
Practice 7 will be held on Monday, 18 May 2026, at 1:00 PM ET. Carb Day is set for Friday, 22 May 2026, at 11:00 AM ET. While those may be the only remaining on-track sessions for the NTT IndyCar Series, tune in for the Oscar Meyer Wienie 500 and the Pit Stop Competition also on Friday. They will be held immediately after Carb Day.
Feature Image: Chris Jones | Penske Entertainment