Scott McLaughlin earned the pole position at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, marking his 12th career NTT Indycar pole and third on this street circuit. McLaughlin’s fastest lap registered at 1:00.54, narrowly edging out second and third by less than a quarter of a tenth of a second, highlighting the intense competition. Meanwhile, rookie Dennis Hauger and Dale Coyne Racing emerged as notable performers during qualifying, drawing significant attention.
Dale Coyne Racing’s Strong Qualifying Performance
Dale Coyne Racing saw both their entries advance into the Firestone Fast Six, reflecting a promising start for the team. Rookie Dennis Hauger impressed by securing third place on the grid, demonstrating remarkable skill on the streets of St. Petersburg. His teammate, Romain Grosjean, returning after time away from Indycar racing, earned the sixth starting position, underlining a strong comeback. These results indicate potential for Dale Coyne Racing in this opening event.
Front Row Closely Contested Among Top Drivers
Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson qualified alongside McLaughlin in second position, narrowly missing out on pole. Alex Palou, the reigning champion, begins his title defense from fourth place, the best starting spot he has achieved at this circuit. David Malukas earned fifth place in his debut for Team Penske, a result that reinforces the team’s decision to bring in the young driver over veteran Will Power.
Mid-Field Battles and Notable Qualifying Setbacks
Qualifying Round 2 ended without McLaren representation as drivers Pato O’Ward and Christian Lundgaard failed to advance to the Fast Six due to insufficient speed. Meyer Shank Racing drivers performed well enough to reach the second round but did not progress further. Marcus Armstrong narrowly missed advancing after a strong lap, settling for seventh, while his teammate Felix Rosenqvist starts 11th. Louis Foster and Kyffin Simpson continued positive momentum for their 2026 campaigns by making it into the second qualifying session and earning top ten starting places in row five.
Early Qualifying Exits for Some Prominent Competitors
Josef Newgarden’s qualifying effort was hampered by an error at the final corner of his hot lap, resulting in a 23rd-place grid spot and a challenging start to the season. Andretti Global teammates Kyle Kirkwood and Will Power exited the first round unexpectedly early, with Kirkwood starting 15th and Power in 13th position. Similarly, Scott Dixon failed to advance to the second round for the first time in this event since 2013, leaving him 16th on the grid.
Confirmed Lineups and Season Outlook
Dale Coyne Racing finalized their driver lineup later than other teams but successfully qualified both cars in the top twelve, featuring a rookie and a returning driver after a year away from Indycar. Meyer Shank Racing also saw both of their competitors reach the Fast Twelve stage, reflecting increased investment and focus for the 2026 season. As the NTT Indycar Series kicks off on the streets of St. Petersburg, these qualifying results set the stage for an intense and uncertain opening race.
