Marcus Ericsson Grabs First IndyCar Pole After Stunning Lap In Arlington Qualifying

Andretti Global's Marcus Ericsson earns his first career IndyCar pole position in dramatic qualifying session.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:20pm

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In a surprising turn of events, Marcus Ericsson of Andretti Global captured his first career IndyCar pole position during qualifying for the Grand Prix of Arlington. The Swede, who has raced in Formula 1 and won the Indianapolis 500, had never before qualified on pole in his IndyCar career until this dramatic session that saw championship leaders Josef Newgarden and Kyle Kirkwood fail to advance to the Firestone Fast Six final round.

Why it matters

Ericsson's pole position is a significant milestone in his IndyCar career, showcasing his driving talent and the competitiveness of the Andretti Global team. The elimination of championship contenders Newgarden and Kirkwood in the earlier rounds also shakes up the starting grid and creates an opportunity for other drivers to gain ground in the title race.

The details

The qualifying session featured a unique format where the top six drivers took single-lap runs in reverse order of their previous round times. Ericsson, who was the last driver to advance to the Fast Six, laid down a blistering lap that held up against the remaining competitors, including reigning champion Alex Palou. This was Ericsson's first pole position since his GP2 (now Formula 2) days in 2013.

  • The qualifying session took place on Saturday, March 14, 2026 ahead of the Grand Prix of Arlington race.
  • Ericsson's last pole position came in 2013 when he was racing in the GP2 series (now known as Formula 2).

The players

Marcus Ericsson

An Andretti Global driver who has raced in Formula 1 and won the Indianapolis 500, but had never before qualified on pole in the NTT IndyCar Series until this dramatic session in Arlington.

Josef Newgarden

The championship leader coming into the Grand Prix of Arlington, who failed to advance to the Firestone Fast Six after crashing in practice earlier in the day.

Kyle Kirkwood

The Andretti driver who was second in the championship standings, but also missed out on the Fast Six after a disappointing qualifying performance.

Alex Palou

The reigning NTT IndyCar Series champion, who was the last driver to take his shot at beating Ericsson's pole-winning lap in the Fast Six.

Will Power

The Penske driver who managed to advance to the Fast Six and will start the race from 4th position.

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What’s next

The Grand Prix of Arlington race is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, where Ericsson will look to convert his first career IndyCar pole position into a race victory.

The takeaway

Marcus Ericsson's first career IndyCar pole position is a significant milestone in his racing career, showcasing his talent and the competitiveness of the Andretti Global team. The surprising eliminations of championship contenders Newgarden and Kirkwood in qualifying also set the stage for an unpredictable race that could shake up the title fight.