Alex Palou achieved a remarkable milestone in his 2025 IndyCar season on Friday by recording the largest margin for a pole-setting lap in over two years. His impressive time showcased a gap of 0.4099 seconds ahead of Graham Rahal, who drives for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in car #15.
The last time a gap this substantial for pole position occurred was in March 2023 at St. Petersburg, where teammates Romain Grosjean outpaced Colton Herta by 0.4155 seconds during a former Andretti Autosport competition.
Palou’s Impressive Qualifying Performance
During the qualifying session, Palou, driving the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing car, faced a significant challenge with a “big time” front right tire lockup at turn one, which forced him to abort his initial attempt in the Fast Six. He ultimately rebounded, clocking a blistering 1:09.3417 lap to secure the pole position.
Reflections on Qualifying
After the session, Palou elaborated on his noteworthy qualifying result, stating, “I believe I was the only driver on fresh sticker alternates in the Fast Six, which contributed to the larger gap to second place. The overall lap time was unexpectedly fast and felt amazing.”
Race Day Challenges Ahead
Despite his success, Palou voiced concerns about potential difficulties in the upcoming Sonsio Grand Prix. He explained that due to the tire lock-up, he would have to use those tires during the race, which might limit their performance. “It’s definitely not ideal to experience a major lock-up. Although we secured pole with them, I’m aware it’ll complicate things during the race,” he admitted.
Uncertainty of Tire Performance
He expressed uncertainty about how the tire situation would influence the race. “Honestly, I can’t predict how it will unfold. It’s going to be intriguing, especially if the primary or alternate tires underperform,” he noted, acknowledging that all drivers would face similar challenges, potentially leading to varied strategies throughout the race.
Look Ahead
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