Palou Dominates Season-Opening IndyCar Race in St. Pete

Reigning champion cruises to victory in Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Alex Palou, the reigning NTT IndyCar Series champion, opened the 2026 season with a dominant victory in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Palou led 59 of the 100 laps and finished 12.5 seconds ahead of runner-up Scott McLaughlin, with Christian Lundgaard completing the podium.

Why it matters

Palou's victory to start the season establishes him as the driver to beat once again in 2026, as he looks to win his fourth series title in as many years. The race also showcased the strategic element added by the new rule requiring the use of at least two sets of the softer Firestone alternate tires.

The details

Palou, driving the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, took the lead for good on Lap 42 after an "overcut" strategy allowed him to jump ahead of early leaders Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Ericsson. Palou then pulled away over the closing laps, using the harder Firestone primary tires for his final stint to secure the victory.

  • The race took place on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
  • Palou took the lead for good on Lap 42 of the 100-lap race.

The players

Alex Palou

The reigning NTT IndyCar Series champion, who won his fourth career race in St. Petersburg.

Scott McLaughlin

The runner-up finisher, driving the No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet.

Christian Lundgaard

The third-place finisher, driving the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

Chip Ganassi Racing

The team that fields Palou's championship-winning car.

Barry Wanser

Palou's longtime strategist, who made the key call to keep Palou out longer on his initial set of alternate tires.

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What they’re saying

“This team keeps on improving, keeps on making new changes, and they just keep on raising the bar. It's pretty impressive. It's a long season in front of us, but what a great way to start the season.”

— Alex Palou (tracksideonline.com)

“Our Chevy was fast, but it's just a mixed bag on what tire you start on. Maybe we come back here again, and maybe you start on reds (alternate) and just get them out of the way. Overall, made the passes we needed to make at the right times, and I thought we maximized our day.”

— Scott McLaughlin (tracksideonline.com)

What’s next

The next NTT IndyCar Series race is the Good Ranchers 250 on Saturday, March 7 at Phoenix Raceway.

The takeaway

Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing have picked up right where they left off, establishing the defending champion as the driver to beat once again in 2026. The new tire strategy element also added an extra layer of intrigue to the season-opening race.