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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Despite being a new season, it was the same story as Alex Palou won again in the NTT IndyCar Series, winning the season-open Firestone Grand Prix for the second straight year.
Palou won eight of the 17 races including the 109th Indianapolis 500 and the series championship in 2025. The other 24 drivers in Sunday’s race on the streets of St. Petersburg were hoping for a different result this season.
But to borrow a phrase from Aerosmith, it was the “same old story, same old song and dance, my friend.”
Palou led 59 laps in the 100-lap race and defeated pole winner Scott McLaughlin’s No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet by 12.4948 seconds for his 20th IndyCar Series win.
“We’re so back!” Palou radioed to his Chip Ganassi Racing crew. “Thanks everyone. What a great job, fellows.”
Palou’s margin of victory was the largest in the history of this event, that began as a Champ Car Series race in 2023.
It was a definitive statement that Palou remains the man to beat in IndyCar.
“We worked hard to keep a gap between us and then, but it’s a challenge,” Ganassi said. “I’m pleased with what we worked for in the offseason to keep a gap here in the IndyCar.
“It’s been an interesting offseason on the track and off the track but we are back to where we want to be.”
Christian Lundgaard of Arrow McLaren was third in the No. 7 Chevrolet followed by Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global in the No. 27 Honda. Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren rounded out the top five in the No. 5 Chevrolet.
Palou’s 20th victory came in his 99th career IndyCar start.
“Amazing, I cannot really tell you,” Palou said. “It’s been an amazing offseason. The car was very comfortable today. The Firestone tires were everlasting. I can’t say enough about that.
“This team keeps on improving and making new changes and raising the bar. A long season in front of us, but what a great way to start the season.”
Palou took the lead on Lap 37 and with the exception of two pit stops, was never challenged for the win.
The key moment came on Lap 39 when Palou pitted and was able to get out on the track ahead of the race leader at that time, Marcus Ericsson.
There were eight lead changes among seven drivers and two yellow flags for seven laps. The first caution was on the first lap when Sting Ray Robb locked up the brakes entering Turn 4, taking out rookie driver Mick Schumacher of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Santino Ferrucci of AJ Foyt Racing.
McLaughlin led the second-most laps in the race with 34. Louie Foster and Dixon led two laps each and Dixon led one lap.
“Good start for the DEX Chevy and the Thirsty Threes,” McLaughlin said. “Alex was super-fast, but I think it’s a mixed bag of what tire you start on. If we come back here again, do you start on Reds and just get them out of the way. We made the passes that we needed to make at the right time, and I thought we maximized what we needed to do.”
Lundgaard’s drive was also a reward for driving through the field to get a podium finish.
“Our strategy was good, the car was really good,” Lundgaard said. “I think we missed it in qualifying. Ultimately, I just have to say thanks to Chevy and Arrow McLaren. We put so much into the off-season moving into a new shop. Pato and I were really fast there. It’s nice to get it done at the beginning of the year, so here we go.”
But the question remains, is anyone going to be able to top Alex Palou in 2026?
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