PALOU NABS POLE POSITION FOR SUNDAY’S PRIMETIME BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500
Last Updated on June 6, 2026 by WWTR
- Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou earns his NTT INDYCAR SERIES-high fifth pole of the season and extends his streak to four consecutive poles.
- Team Penske’s David Malukas secures his fourth front-row start of the season.
MADISON, Ill. (June 6, 2026) – Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou collected his NTT INDYCAR SERIES-leading fifth pole position of the season – and fourth in a row – in Saturday’s qualifying for the 10th annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline atWorld Wide Technology Raceway.
Palou secured his first pole position at WWT Raceway with a two-lap average of 174.353 miles per hour on the 1.25-mile oval. He was the final qualifier and knocked Team Penske’s David Malukas (173.244 mph) from the top spot by better than a mile per hour.
The pole was the 17th of his career, and he became the first driver since Will Power in 2011 to win four consecutive poles in a season. The achievement was perhaps his most unexpected, given his lack of success at WWT Raceway, where he has yet to win, lead a lap or start better than fifth.
“I think this pole, it actually means a lot more than what people might think,” said Palou, whose best finish at WWT Raceway was fourth in 2024. “People might think it’s just another pole. For me, means a lot. I’ve been preparing a lot for this race and for this qualifying. I’m very, very happy that it worked out.”
Palou will lead the 25-car field to the green flag Sunday for FOX’s only primetime race of the season beginning at 8 p.m. CT. He will be looking to become the first polesitter to win an INDYCAR race at WWT Raceway since the series returned in 2017 and the first driver to convert a pole into victory at the track since Helio Castroneves accomplished the feat in 2003.
“The team I have around me is incredible, honestly,” said Palou, who has won four of the season’s first eight races. “My car was on rails today. It was incredible. It’s a place that I struggle the most so far; hopefully we can change it tomorrow. I knew this morning that our car was super quick. … But I really didn’t expect to get the pole here today, honestly. It’s just incredible. Super proud. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”
Malukas will start alongside him after earning his fourth front-row start of the season.
Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, the defending race winner who is second in the championship standings behind Palou, will line up third with a qualifying run average of 173.206 mph. Alongside Kirkwood will be the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist, who posted a two-lap average of 172.953 mph for Meyer Shank Racing.
Team Penske was the only team to have two drivers among the top five, with Scott McLaughlin taking the fifth spot with an average of 172.869 mph. Click HERE for the full qualifying results.
In Indy NXT by Firestone qualifying, Lochie Hughes secured his third career pole position
and first on an oval with a two-lap average of 162.578 miles per hour. It was the first pole of the season for the Andretti Global driver. AJ Foyt Racing’s Alessandro de Tullio, who has a series-leading five poles, will start second with his two-lap average of 162.363 mph. Click HERE for the full qualifying results.
The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will culminate a single-day tripleheader Sunday that also includes the INDY NXT by Firestone race at 4:30 p.m. and the OUTFRONT Route 66 Classic presented by Welsch Heating and Cooling USAC Silver Crown race at 5:45 p.m.
MEDIA CONTACT: Payton Buschhorn | WWTR Public Relations & Media Manager | 314.517.5125 | pbuschhorn@wwtraceway.com
