Alex Palou Delivers Qualifying Masterclass for Sonsio Grand Prix Pole at IMS
Alex Palou continues to raise the bar in the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES, storming to pole position for the Sonsio Grand Prix with a final-lap stunner that left the field trailing in his wake. Driving the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, the current championship leader set a blistering time of 1:09.3417 in the Firestone Fast Six session, securing his second straight pole of the season — and his second consecutive at the IMS road course.
Palou’s edge came down to savvy tire strategy and perfect execution. While several drivers burned through their supply of Firestone alternate “red” tires earlier in the day, Palou saved a fresh set for when it mattered most.
“We had a bit of an advantage there with a set of new soft tires,” Palou admitted. “Some guys used them in Q1, but we held ours. That probably gave us the edge.”
The result wasn’t just impressive — it was dominant. Palou’s time was nearly half a second clear of second-place qualifier Graham Rahal (1:09.7516), marking one of the largest pole margins seen so far this year. In total, it was the eighth career pole for Palou, who has won three of the season’s first four races.
Tire Tactics and Pure Speed: A Winning Combo
Palou’s ability to get the most from his car and his team was on full display. He didn’t test the red tires in practice like many others did, instead opting to trust his engineers’ experience and save a new set for the final qualifying segment.
“We’ve done weekends where we used two sets of reds in Q1 just to get through, but this time we felt confident,” Palou said. “And we made some big changes throughout the day — and all of them worked.”
He admitted the qualifying session wasn’t without its nerve-racking moments. A heavy lock-up in the Firestone Fast Six nearly jeopardized his run, but the car held up.
“The track has so much grip right now — it gives you confidence to push, but at some point, the tires say no,” he explained. “I had a big snap and locked up, and now I have to race on that same set tomorrow. So yeah, I’ll be crying a little during that stint.”
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Revival
Behind Palou, the qualifying session marked a big day for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL), which put three cars into the Fast Six for the first time ever. Graham Rahal led the team in P2, with rookie Louis Foster earning a season-best third and Devlin DeFrancesco rounding out RLL’s showing in fifth.
“It feels so good,” Rahal said. “This team needed this. The car felt great — balanced and quick. To have three of us in the top five is a big statement.”
Foster, in just his first full season, continues to impress, while DeFrancesco’s performance matched his career-best qualifying result from this very track in 2023.
Palou on Pressure, Momentum, and the History Books
With his current form — including three wins and two poles in just five events — Palou’s trajectory is drawing comparisons to the golden eras of the 1970s. He’s on the verge of becoming the first driver since that decade to win four of the first five races of a top-tier INDYCAR season outside the CART/IRL split era.
Yet, the Spaniard seems completely unfazed by the rising expectations.
“Honestly, I didn’t even know about that stat,” Palou smiled. “But that just makes it extra, extra, extra special. Still, we’re not here to protect stats — we’re here to win every race. We have the car and the team for it.”
As for pressure?
“It’s the good kind of pressure,” he said. “It’s not, ‘What if we lose?’ It’s more like, ‘What if we can pull this off?’ That’s what drives us.”
Palou also credited his calmer demeanor and more relaxed approach this season to fewer distractions off track and a strong relationship with his crew.
“I’m not someone who usually shows a lot of emotion, but I feel relaxed and happy. And I think that helps.”
Stacked Grid and High Stakes on Saturday
The rest of the Firestone Fast Six featured Scott McLaughlin (P4) and Josef Newgarden (P6) of Team Penske, while Will Power narrowly missed out in seventh. Kyffin Simpson continued to build momentum with another top-10 performance, qualifying 10th.
Notably, Kyle Kirkwood — the only driver besides Palou to win a race this season — struggled and will start 21st for Andretti Global.
With a warmer forecast and mandatory tire compound usage set to shake up strategies, Saturday’s 85-lap race promises unpredictability. Palou enters from pole, but he knows the job is far from finished.
“It’s a long race, and we’ll need to manage the tires well,” Palou said. “But we’ve got the car, and I’ve got full faith in my team. Now we just need to execute.”