Alex Palou Dominates at St. Petersburg, Continuing Historic Run
Alex Palou, the four-time INDYCAR SERIES champion, kicked off the 2026 season with a commanding victory at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday. This win marks Palou’s 20th career victory and his second consecutive triumph at the St. Petersburg street circuit.
How The Race Was Won
Palou secured the win with a substantial 12.49-second lead over Scott McLaughlin, demonstrating his dominance throughout the race. He led a total of 59 laps, showcasing his control and strategic prowess. Pole-sitter Scott McLaughlin led for 34 laps before ultimately finishing in second place.
Key Moments
The race saw an early incident on Lap 1 when newcomer Mick Schumacher crashed, prematurely ending his race and any chance of a strong debut in the INDYCAR SERIES.
Top-10 Results
- Alex Palou
- Scott McLaughlin
- Christian Lundgaard
- Kyle Kirkwood
- Pato O’Ward
- Marcus Ericsson
- Josef Newgarden
- Romain Grosjean
- Rinus Veekay
- Dennis Hauger
What’s Next
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES continues with the Good Ranchers 250 on March 7 at Phoenix Raceway. This race will be part of a doubleheader weekend with NASCAR and will be broadcast on FOX at Noon ET.
Alex Palou: A Champion’s Legacy
Alex Palou’s recent success includes a historic 2025 season where he secured eight wins, including a landmark victory in the 109th Indianapolis 500. As IndyCar.com details, he became the first Spaniard to win both an INDYCAR championship and the Indy 500. He has clinched the INDYCAR SERIES championship in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, becoming the first driver since Dario Franchitti to win three consecutive titles.
According to Wikipedia, Palou was born on April 1, 1997, in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana. He drives the No. 10 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.
ESPN reports that Palou described winning the Indy 500 as “the best day of my entire life.”