Scott McLaughlin and Team Penske may have been on pole for the first IndyCar race of 2026, but once again, there was no counting out the unstoppable force of Álex Palou. With new tyre rules creating uncertainty about the optimal strategy, Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing once again reigned victorious, taking a dominant win in St. Petersburg.
An Interrupted Beginning
Just like last year in St. Petersburg, it wasn’t long before a full-course yellow was shown. As the field went green, the front-runners got a clean start. The same couldn’t be said further back in the field.
Entering Turn 4, Sting Ray Robb collided with Santino Ferrucci, sending them both into the barrier. With nowhere to go, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing rookie Mick Schumacher found himself in the back of Ferrucci.
Robb was able to reverse and return to the track, and after a pit stop, resumed his race. However, Ferrucci and Schumacher both retired, ending their first race in 2026 moments after it started. The stewards gave Robb a 30-second stop-and-hold penalty for avoidable contact.
Trouble Throughout The Grid
As the race restarted following the opening lap crash, Romain Grosjean was hot on the heels of David Malukas. As Malukas went to defend in Turn 1, he locked up, creating a large flat-spot on his left front tyre. Instead of giving up position, Malukas chose to stay on track. Laps later, the tyre began to delaminate and fall apart. Malukas was able to limp back to the pits, but he fell a lap behind the grid. Despite the unfortunate start to his first race with Team Penske, he recovered to the lead lap and ultimately finished P13.
Another driver with a new team who encountered issues was Will Power in the No. 26 Andretti Global. On Lap 21, he hit the wall between Turns 10 and 11, similar to his crash in Friday’s practice. Power returned to his pit box, and on inspection, his wishbone was damaged. While he briefly returned to the track, Power ultimately retired from the race.
Scott Dixon went bold on his strategy, capitalising on the early caution period. Initially, this looked to benefit him, and by Lap 39, he was leading the race. After his second pit stop, however, his wheel nut came off, sending his tyre down the run off at Turn 4 and causing a second full-course yellow. Dixon was the fourth and final retirement of the race.
Christian Rasmussen also had a minor issue, colliding with Kyffin Simpson and spinning in the middle of Turn 1. Fortunately, he kept running, but the incident relegated him to the back of the grid. After having been battling for a spot in the top 10, Rasmussen finished P19, only ahead of Nolan Siegel and the lapped Robb.
The Unstoppable Force of Palou
For the last three years, Álex Palou has been a dominant force on the IndyCar grid. Winning three championships in a row, many drivers over the off-season shared how the young Spaniard is only improving. In qualifying, he achieved his best starting position in St. Petersburg and began the race from P4.
In the early stages, Palou looked to be idle on track, keeping a gap to Ericsson ahead of him. Instead of pitting early, he gambled on an overcut strategy and stayed on track longer than those ahead of him. Ultimately, this was a crucial part of his success. With Ericsson, Mclaughlin, and Marcus Armstrong battling for position, Palou was able to come out ahead of the trio and lead the race.
During the second stint, Palou was unstoppable. Lapping nine-tenths quicker than Ericsson, he quickly had a 14-second gap. This allowed him to retain the lead after the second round of stops. Whilst it briefly looked as though Kyle Kirkwood was going to raise a challenge for the win, Palou was merely managing. With 10 laps remaining, the pace picked up, and he ultimately won with a 13-second gap.
The Podium Battle
With Palou ahead of the grid, it came down to a battle for P2 and P3. Initially, this was between McLaughlin and Ericsson. During the second stint, Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong joined the battle and started to pressure Ericsson. As the Andretti driver’s tyres started to suffer, Armstrong attempted a move into Turn 1, but missed his brake point and went wide, ending his podium challenge. Soon after, Ericsson pitted.
With Ericsson and Armstrong out of the battle, Kyle Kirkwood and Christian Lundgaard joined the fray. Initially, Kirkwood sat in P2 and was looking to challenge Palou. However, as the race came to a close, he started to fall back to manage his fuel. McLaughlin was able to overtake him, and it wasn’t long before Lundgaard did too. The McLaren driver was close to the Penske, although he ran out of time to make a move and had to settle for P3.
After starting P23, Josef Newgarden stayed patient and calculated throughout the race to become the biggest mover. Making up 16 places, he finished in P7. Considering their subpar 2025 season, Dale Coyne Racing looked like a new team, with both drivers finishing in the Top 10. Finishing tenth, Dennis Hauger impressed on debut and was the highest-placing rookie.
Once again, Palou looks to still be the undeniable force that he was in 2025. He begins 2026 as he finished last season, leading the championship. With the new Phoenix race next weekend, drivers don’t have long until they are back on track. With the drivers facing a new track, can someone else take the win, or will Palou continue to be on the top step?
“For me, winning a race, it’s pure excitement. We’re genuinely very proud of the amazing work that everybody has done in the team. I knew we had the team and the ability to win, but it’s never easy.”
~ Palou post-race on his victory.