(ST. PETERSBURG, FL.) – Alex Palou picked up right where he left off in 2025, converted patience, strategy, and relentless pace into a commanding victory at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, opening the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series with a statement win that underlined Chip Ganassi Racing’s early-season strength.

RESULTS

“This team keeps on improving, keeps on making new changes, and they just keep on raising the bar,” Palou said. “It’s pretty impressive. It’s a long season in front of us, but what a great way to start the season.”

“Those Firestones were like everlasting,” Palou said. “They would just keep going. I had an amazing car today.”

Race summary and how the win unfolded

Palou in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda began the race running in the top 5 and used the pit‑stop cycle to move into the lead, then controlled the race from the front with consistent lap times and excellent tire management. He led 59 laps and crossed the line 12.4948 seconds ahead of Scott McLaughlin in the No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet to claim his 20th career victory.

Penske’s McLaughlin, who started on pole, led early and kept pressure on before Palou’s strategy and pace proved decisive. Behind them, Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet produced a strong run to complete the podium, while Kyle Kirkwood in the No. 27 JM Bullion/Gold.com Honda, Pato O’Ward in the No. 5 Chevrolet and Marcus Ericsson in the No. 28 Delaware Life Andretti Global Honda rounded out the top six.

“Our Chevy was fast, but it’s just a mixed bag on what tire you start on,” McLaughlin said. “Maybe we come back here again, and maybe you start on reds (alternate) and just get them out of the way. Overall, made the passes we needed to make at the right times, and I thought we maximized our day.”

Key moments that shaped the result

  • Opening‑lap chaos — A first‑lap incident involving Mick Schumacher removed a contender and forced teams to adapt strategy around the early cleanup.
  • Pit‑stop swing — Palou’s timing through the green‑flag pit cycle allowed him to emerge ahead of his rivals and control the race in clean air.
  • Tire durability — Palou repeatedly posted strong middle and long‑stint laps, showing the Firestone compounds held up well and enabling him to extend his advantage late in the race.

What the result means for the championship and teams

  • Palou and Ganassi start as favorites. A dominant opening win gives Palou early championship points and momentum that will pressure rivals to respond quickly.
  • Penske’s mixed weekend. McLaughlin’s runner‑up shows Penske’s raw speed, but the team will want more consistency across its lineup to challenge for the title.
  • Arrow McLaren and Andretti are threats. Lundgaard’s podium and solid results from Kirkwood and O’Ward indicate both teams have race pace and strategy options to contest future rounds.

Driver takeaways and notable performances

  • Alex Palou — Clinical and strategic; converted opportunity into a comfortable win and extended his reputation as a street‑course master.
  • Scott McLaughlin — Strong from pole to the finish; lacked the final margin but salvaged a valuable podium.
  • Christian Lundgaard — Earned a well‑timed podium for Arrow McLaren and confirmed his ability to capitalize on race dynamics.

Palou’s victory at St. Pete sets an early benchmark for the 2026 season and frames the next rounds as a tactical battle among several closely matched teams. What angle would you like next: a lap‑by‑lap breakdown, a team strategy analysis, or a driver performance deep dive for the top six finishers?

Up Next: NTT INDYCAR SERIES race is the Good Ranchers 250 on Saturday, March 7 at Phoenix Raceway, part of the “Desert Double” weekend at the 1-mile oval that also features a NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday.

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