Alex Palou's Gateway pole should terrify IndyCar field

If Alex Palou's pole run at Gateway on Saturday is any indication, the rest of the IndyCar field is in even more trouble than they thought. 

Palou — IndyCar's points leader, three-time defending champion and winner of last week's race in Detroit — won the pole for Sunday's Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at Gateway by over one mile per hour over a two-lap average. 

For a driver still working to improve on ovals, especially at Gateway, which is one of Palou's worst tracks, Saturday was proof that Palou is capable of having winning speed when only turning left. That only makes him more dangerous as he hunts for a fifth championship. 

Palou's average speed during his two-lap run was 174.353 miles per hour. The pole is the fourth straight for the Spaniard, who now has 16 in his career. 

Palou has four wins and seven top 10s through the first eight races of the 2026 season and enters Sunday with a 62-point advantage over Kyle Kirkwood in the standings. 

Gateway pole means something to Alex Palou

"I think this pole, it actually means a lot more than what people might think," Palou said. "People might think it's just another pole. For me, means a lot. I've been preparing a lot for this race and for this qualifying. I'm very, very happy that it worked out.

"It's a huge advantage for me. That doesn't mean anything for the end result of the race. Huge advantage. Normally, in a normal race start, you have an easier start. Even if you get shuffled in a little bit, you can still be in the top three, top five. It kind of makes your start of the race a little bit easier."

David Malukas, who is third in the series standings and nearly won the Indianapolis 500, will join Palou on the front row for Sunday's race. Malukas is still searching for his first IndyCar win. 

Kirkwood, Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist and Scott McLaughlin rounded out the top five qualifiers, with Marcus Armstrong, Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Pato O'Ward and Alexander Rossi completed the top 10. 

Other notable qualifiers include Graham Rahal in 11th, Santino Ferrucci in 15th, Mick Schumacher in 18th, Christian Rasmussen in 19th and Will Power in 21st. 

Sunday's Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will go green shortly after 9 p.m. ET, with coverage on FOX and the IndyCar Radio Network. 

Quotes provided by IndyCar Media.