The IndyCar Qualifying session began on the Streets of Washington, D.C., with drivers chasing pole position around the new seven-corner street circuit.
One grid penalty had already been confirmed before qualifying. A.J. Foyt Racing changed the engine on Santino Ferrucci’s No. 14 Chevrolet after Markham, so Ferrucci would drop six places for Sunday’s race. That meant his final starting position would not match his qualifying result.
The 2.7km layout looked simple on paper, but practice had already shown how quickly the bumps and walls could punish mistakes. Rossi entered the session with momentum after a strong day for ECR, while teammate Rasmussen had also looked competitive.
Lundgaard set the early benchmark ahead of Power and Ericsson, but several drivers came under pressure quickly. Rahal brushed the wall, Palou locked up, and VeeKay hit the wall with the right rear after showing strong pace earlier in the weekend.
2026 IndyCar Washington | Group 1 Qualifying results
- Kyle Kirkwood
- Marcus Armstrong
- Alex Palou
- Christian Lundgaard
- Pato O’Ward
- Felix Rosenqvist
- Will Power
- Marcus Ericsson
- Rinus VeeKay
- Romain Grosjean
- Alexander Rossi
- Graham Rahal
Group 2
Group 2 headed out with Mick Schumacher setting the early pace ahead of Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin, before Kyle Kirkwood and Kyffin Simpson moved to the top on soft tyres.
As the session built towards its final minute, Malukas jumped to first with a 57.2s, while Siegel improved into the top six after a big save near the wall at Turn 4.
The session ended under red flags when Simpson crashed at Turn 5. He lost his two fastest laps for causing the stoppage, which promoted Hauger into the top six and left Dixon just outside the transfer places.
2026 IndyCar Washington | Group 2 Qualifying results
- David Malukas
- Caio Collet
- Christian Rasmussen
- Scott McLaughlin
- Nolan Siegel
- Kyffin Simpson
- Dennis Hauger
- Scott Dixon
- Josef Newgarden
- Louis Foster
- Mick Schumacher
- Santino Ferrucci
- Sting Ray Robb
Fast 12
The Fast 12 gave drivers one final multi-lap run before the single-lap Fast Six.
Tyre strategy varied, with some drivers starting on softs while Kirkwood and Siegel used hards. O’Ward set the early pace before Palou moved ahead, while McLaughlin looked strong over the bumps on the harder tyre.
The final runs brought a rapid shuffle. Hauger briefly went fastest, Kirkwood then set a 56.9, and Armstrong brushed the wall but still moved to the top before pitting.
McLaughlin later jumped ahead with a strong lap, but Kirkwood responded late to finish the Fast 12 fastest, ahead of McLaughlin and Palou.
2026 IndyCar Washington | Fast 12 Qualifying results
- Kyle Kirkwood
- Scott McLaughlin
- Alex Palou
- Marcus Armstrong
- David Malukas
- Christian Rasmussen
Eliminated:
- Pato O’Ward
- Dennis Hauger
- Christian Lundgaard
- Felix Rosenqvist
- Caio Collet
- Nolan Siegel
Fast Six
The Fast Six used a one-lap format, leaving no room for mistakes around the bumpy Washington street circuit.
Kirkwood went first and set the initial benchmark with a 57.4 after a lock-up at Turn 1. Palou then delivered the decisive lap, attacking the walls and crossing the line with a 56.8 to move to provisional pole.
McLaughlin could not match him and slotted in behind Kirkwood with a 57.620, while Armstrong’s 58.8 left him further back. Malukas’ run unravelled with a heavy lock-up and contact at Turn 1, forcing him to back off.
Rasmussen produced the strongest late challenge, keeping the car under control despite a lock-up and securing fourth with a career-best IndyCar qualifying result. However, no one could beat Palou, who claimed his seventh pole position of the 2026 season.
2026 IndyCar Washington | Fast Six Qualifying results
- Alex Palou
- Kyle Kirkwood
- Scott McLaughlin
- Christian Rasmussen
- Marcus Armstrong
- David Malukas
