IndyCar News: Palou Wins Pole for Children’s of Alabama Indy GP

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Álex Palou delivered a statement performance on Saturday, March 28, 2026, claiming the pole position for Sunday’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park. The two-time reigning NTT IndyCar Series champion and 2025 title winner clocked a lap of 1:06.2341 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, securing his first pole of the young 2026 season and the 13th of his IndyCar career.

The 2.38-mile, 17-turn road course proved once again to be Palou’s playground. He edged out Team Penske’s David Malukas by just 0.1137 seconds in a tightly contested Firestone Fast Six, where the top spot changed hands multiple times in the final minutes. Malukas, making his mark early in his Penske tenure, posted a strong 1:06.3478 to line up second on the grid.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal will start third after a solid 1:06.5181, while Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong slotted into fourth with a 1:06.5312. Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood — currently leading the championship standings — qualified fifth at 1:06.8326, and Dale Coyne Racing’s Romain Grosjean rounded out the front row in sixth with a 1:06.8363.

Drama in Qualifying: Power’s Costly Crash

Not all stories from the session were positive. Andretti Global’s Will Power encountered brake issues during the first segment of qualifying and slammed into the tire barrier at Turn 5. The Australian will now start 23rd on the grid, facing an uphill battle from the back of the 25-car field tomorrow.

Palou’s lap time not only gave him the NTT P1 Award but also highlighted his continued excellence on permanent road courses — venues where he has historically dominated. The Spaniard enters the weekend as one of the championship’s hottest drivers, sitting just 26 points behind current points leader Kyle Kirkwood after three races. With one win and two top-five finishes already in 2026, a strong result here could ignite his bid for a fifth series title (and fourth in five years).

What It Means for Sunday’s 90-Lap Race

Palou heads into the 207-mile contest as the clear favorite on a track where he has previously won by a commanding 16-second margin. Starting from pole on a permanent road course plays perfectly into the strengths of the Ganassi driver, who has now won 15 of his 20 career IndyCar victories on such circuits.

Yet the field is stacked with contenders. Malukas and Rahal showed impressive pace, while Kirkwood — the current points leader — and O’Ward (12th) will be looking to charge forward. Power’s recovery drive from near the rear will add extra intrigue, as the two-time champion hates starting anywhere but the front.

With the Alabama sun expected to shine and a packed house of fans at the iconic Barber facility, Sunday’s race (1:00 p.m. ET on FOX) promises high-stakes action from the drop of the green flag. Palou has the pole and the pedigree — now it’s time to see if he can convert it into another dominant victory on one of his favorite tracks.

Stay tuned to AutoRacing1.com for full race coverage, results, and post-race analysis from the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix.

IndyCar Qualifying Results