Indianapolis 500 starting grid 2026: Full lineup set, drivers, teams

The starting lineup for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 has taken its final shape with defending winner Alex Palou leading the 33‑car field from pole, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most tightly contested editions of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.

After a nerve‑wracking weekend of qualifying at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the grid has crystallized into a mix of established champions, seasoned veterans, and a handful of promising newcomers, ensuring that Sunday’s 500‑mile test of speed, strategy and survival will be as much about where cars start as about where they finish.

Palou will lead the 110th edition of the Indy 500 after putting together a four‑lap qualifying average of 232.248 mph, edging out a fiercely competitive top row and giving Chip Ganassi Racing its first pole‑sweep‑style launch at the event since the early 2010s.

Ed Carpenter’s Alexander Rossi will start on the inside of the front row beside Palou as David Malukas completes the leading trio on the outside in the Team Penske Chevrolet.

Moving to the second row, Felix Rosenqvist headlines Meyer Shank Racing’s charge in fourth, alongside Santino Ferrucci in fifth, marking AJ Foyt Racing’s most competitive starting position in several years.

Pato O’Ward slots into sixth for Arrow McLaren as he seeks Indy 500 breakthrough after finishing third last year and as the runner-up twice (2022, 2024).

Kyffin Simpson, one of the youngest drivers on the grid, lines up seventh in the Ganassi Honda, while Conor Daly’s eighth‑place start in the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Chevrolet underlines his aptitude for “double‑duty”‑style qualifying days and his nose‑for‑the front.

Scott McLaughlin starts ninth in the No. 3 Chevrolet, slotting in behind Daly and Simpson in a third row that could see jostling for the first turn as the field stretches out.

2026 Indianapolis 500 schedule: Race times and TV

Indy 500 Qualifying highlights

Full Indianapolis 500 starting grid 2026