Alex Palou - 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach winner. Photo by Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
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IndyCar News: Palou beats Rosenqvist to win Acura GP of Long Beach

Lucille Dust

Polesitter Felix Rosenqvist held the lead for 51 of 90 laps of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach IndyCar race. Still, after a full-course caution for debris, Alex Palou’s Chip Ganassi crew got him out just ahead of Rosenqvist, and when the green flag came out, Palou pulled away to win by 4 seconds on the 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit.

Palou saved fuel before the pitstop, so his crew took less time to fill his tank, enabling Palou to beat Rosenqvist out. From there, Palou gave Rosenqvist a proper schooling the rest of the way.

It was Palou’s first win on the streets of Long Beach and his 22nd career IndyCar victory. He also won the last IndyCar race at Barber Motorsports Park. He now takes the point lead by 17 over Kyle Kirkwood.

For Rosenqvist, it was a bittersweet result after starting on pole and leading so many laps.

Palou’s Ganassi teammate, Scott Dixon,  took the final podium position in 3rd, 5.4s behind Palou. This was the New Zealander’s 146th podium of his career.

Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood made it a Honda 1-2-3-4 in 4th, 6s behind the Spaniard. The American is now in second place in the points.

Pato O’Ward, who started 2nd, faded to 5th at the finish, 11.9s behind Palou. The 26-year-old is now fourth in the championship points.

The only yellow-flag condition occurred on lap 57 due to debris on the track, allowing all cars to make their final pit stops.

 

Will Power   Photo courtesy of Penske Entertainment

Will Power, driver of the No 26 TWG AI Andretti Global  Honda, was running seventh before his second pit stop during the yellow.  Unfortunately, the Australian ran over the rear tire changer’s toes for Caio Collet’s crew when exiting the pits.  After serving his drive-thru penalty, Power finished 19th.

The only DNF was Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson, who suffered a failure of the hybrid system.

Alex Palou on his way to winning the 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach – Photo by  Chris Jones

 

2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Race Results

Pos St. No Name Team Engine Behind Gap Laps
1 3 10 Alex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 0.000s 0.000s 90
2 1 60 Felix Rosenqvist Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb‑Agajanian Honda 3.9662 3.9662 90
3 6 9 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 5.4462 1.4799 90
4 4 27 Kyle Kirkwood Andretti Global Honda 5.9729 0.5266 90
5 2 5 Pato O’Ward Arrow McLaren Chevy 11.8704 5.8974 90
6 8 3 Scott McLaughlin Team Penske Chevy 12.9058 1.0353 90
7 5 12 David Malukas Team Penske Chevy 13.4836 0.5777 90
8 10 15 Graham Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda In Pit 14.0836 90
9 18 20 Alexander Rossi Ed Carpenter Racing Chevy 27.6344 0.0670 90
10 9 8 Kyffin Simpson Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 28.7285 1.0940 90
11 19 19 Dennis Hauger Dale Coyne Racing Honda 28.9917 0.2631 90
12 25 6 Nolan Siegel Arrow McLaren Chevy 29.9125 0.9207 90
13 12 76 Rinus VeeKay Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevy 30.5865 0.6739 90
14 14 2 Josef Newgarden Team Penske Chevy 30.8409 0.2543 90
15 16 21 Christian Rasmussen Ed Carpenter Racing Chevy 31.1660 0.3250 90
16 17 45 Louis Foster Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Chevy 36.1635 4.9974 90
17 21 47 Mick Schumacher Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda 36.9673 0.8037 90
18 22 14 Santino Ferrucci A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevy 1 LAPS 3.7131 90
19 7 26 Will Power Andretti Global Honda 1 LAPS 0.2187 90
20 11 7 Christian Lundgaard Arrow McLaren Chevy 42.1751 0.9911 90
21 23 18 Romain Grosjean Dale Coyne Racing Honda 42.8421 0.6669 90
22 20 4 Caio Collet A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevy 43.6646 0.8224 90
23 24 77 Sting Ray Robb Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevy 44.7035 1.0388 90
24 13 66 Marcus Armstrong Meyer Shank Racing Honda 1 LAPS 29.2255 89
25 15 28 Marcus Ericsson Andretti Global Honda DNF 2.5113 38

 

It was a picture-perfect day for a great race.   Thinking of Jim Michaelian after his passing last month.   This one was for Jim.

Lucille Dust reporting live from Long Beach