Felix Rosenqvist Wins Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Pole

Meyer-Shank Racing driver claims first IndyCar pole since 2024

Apr. 19, 2026 at 12:26am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an abstract IndyCar race scene, with the car and track broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and form.Rosenqvist's pole-winning lap showcases the raw power and technical precision of modern IndyCar racing.Long Beach Today

Felix Rosenqvist, driving for Meyer-Shank Racing, won the pole position for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, his first IndyCar pole since 2024. Rosenqvist used the right strategy in the newly tweaked Firestone Fast 6 single-lap qualifying format to claim the top spot on the grid for Sunday's race.

Why it matters

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is one of the most prestigious events on the IndyCar calendar, and securing pole position is a major accomplishment for any driver. Rosenqvist's pole win marks a return to form for the Swedish driver, who has struggled with consistency in recent seasons.

The details

Rosenqvist set the fastest lap time in the Firestone Fast 6 qualifying session, a new format that sees the top six drivers from the initial qualifying rounds compete in a single-lap shootout to determine the pole position. This is Rosenqvist's first pole since the 2024 Long Beach race.

  • Rosenqvist won the pole for the 2026 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18, 2026.

The players

Felix Rosenqvist

A Swedish racing driver competing in the IndyCar Series for Meyer-Shank Racing.

Meyer-Shank Racing

An American professional auto racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series.

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What they’re saying

“This is a great result for the team and I'm really happy to be back on pole position. The new qualifying format is exciting and puts a lot of pressure on the drivers, but we were able to execute our strategy perfectly.”

— Felix Rosenqvist, IndyCar Driver

What’s next

Rosenqvist will look to convert his pole position into a victory in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

The takeaway

Rosenqvist's pole position win at Long Beach marks a return to form for the talented Swedish driver, who has struggled with consistency in recent IndyCar seasons. The new Firestone Fast 6 qualifying format has added an extra element of excitement to the series, putting increased pressure on drivers to deliver a single perfect lap.