Pole position at the 2026 IndyCar Barber GP went to reigning champion Alex Palou, who put together an impressive flying lap during the Fast 6 qualifying. Team Penske’s David Malukas will line up second on the grid, with Graham Rahal starting from P3.
The race weekend saw Scott McLaughlin set the fastest lap in Practice 1, but later experience a massive crash during Practice 2. McLaughlin lost control of his car heading into Turn 1, going over the barrier and through the catch fencing.
Thankfully, McLaughlin was medically cleared and able to participate in qualifying.
2026 IndyCar Barber GP Qualifying | Round 1, Group 1
Reigning champion Alex Palou set the first flying lap of the session, at 1:11.407s. Andretti’s Will Power soon dropped the benchmark to 1:08.063s. Drivers Alex Rossi, Christian Rasmussen, Kyffin Simpson, and Scott Dixon started on the red-walled soft tyres.
Power went off at Turn 1 early into the session, managing to keep control of his car. However, he crashed into the barriers at Turn 5 after starting a flying lap. It appeared like his brakes locked up, preventing him from turning away from the wall. Power reported a brake failure after exiting his car.
The session was red flagged with rookie Caio Collet at the top of the timing charts, at 1.06.941s. It restarted after clearing Power’s car from the track, with five minutes left in the session. Palou was the first driver to return to the track, setting a 1.06.103s on the red-walled tyres. He jumped to the top of the charts.
Unfortunately for him, Dixon was unable to set a lap to advance into the Fast 12. He has been unable to escape the first round of qualifying during the first four races of the season.
Palou, Lundgaard, Rahal, Armstrong, Rossi, and Ferrucci advanced to the Fast 12.
Round 1, Group 2
Andretti’s Marcus Ericsson started the session strongly, setting a 1:10.656s during qualifying at the IndyCar Barber GP. Teammate Kyle Kirkwood quickly dropped the benchmark to 1:06.906s. Dennis Hauger and Sting Ray Robb were the only drivers in Round 2 to start on the red-walled soft tyres.
Recovering from his crash during Practice 2, McLaughlin used a spare car to compete in qualifying. With four minutes left in session, Josef Newgarden adjusted his front wing in the pits, switching to soft tyres on his No. 2 Chevrolet.
On a flying lap, Romain Grosjean appeared to be on pace to advance to the Fast 12. Notably, Grosjean holds the track record at the IndyCar Barber GP. Unfortunately, Robb impeded his lap. However, the Frenchman immediately started a second flying lap, jumping to the top of the timing table, at 1:06.474s.
Kirkwood returned to the top of the charts, at 1:06.212s ahead of David Malukas and Grosjean. McLaughlin narrowly missed out on the Fast 12 — a notable recovery following his Practice 2 crash.
Kirkwood, Malukas, Grosjean, Newgarden, Ericsson, and O’Ward advanced to the Fast 12.
Fast 12
Newgarden and O’Ward started the Fast 12 Qualifying on used soft tyres at the IndyCar Barber GP. Ericsson started the session strongly, setting a 1:09.764s on the hard tyres. However, Newgarden quickly dropped the benchmark, setting a lap time of 1:06.450s ahead of Kirkwood and Malukas.
With five minutes to go, all the cars pit to change tyres. Palou went to the top of the charts, at 1:06.077s. However, Kirkwood dropped the time to 1:06.038s. Ferrucci went into the grass at the end of his lap, making it into the top six but subsequently getting dropped out by Grosjean. He finished P7. Additionally, both Arrow McLarens were unable to set laps fast enough for the Fast 6.
Kirkwood, Palou, Malukas, Armstrong, Rahal, and Grosjean advanced to the Fast 6.
2026 IndyCar Barber GP | Fast 6
Fast 6 at the IndyCar Barber GP saw Rahal start the qualifying session, setting a lap time of 1:06.740s. Shortly into the session, Grosjean went off-track at Turn 9 during his flying lap.
Palou set a lap on a fresh set of red-walled tyres, going to the top of the charts with a 1:06.234s. Kirkwood went out on a used set of hard tyres, saving a sticker set of softs for tomorrow’s race. He almost went off-track during his only flying lap, losing significant time.
Palou took his first pole position of the 2026 season ahead of Malukas, Rahal, Armstrong, Kirkwood, and Grosjean.
