Pole-man Palou: He wins the INDYCAR pole at Gateway

MADISON, Ill. — Alex Palou has turned himself into quite the qualifier as he wins the NTT INDYCAR Series pole for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline at Gateway.

This is his fourth pole in a row and his fifth pole in nine events this season for his 17th career INDYCAR Series pole overall.

The team I have around me is incredible,” Palou said. “My car was on rails today; it was incredible. It’s the place that I’ve struggled the most so far (in my career), so hopefully (this speed) will continue tomorrow.”

Odds-on-favorite David Malukas will line up alongside Palou on the front row. He looks to recover from his recovery gone wrong last time out at Detroit.

The defending Gateway winner, Kyle Kirkwood, will start third. He enters the event 62 points behind the championship leader Palou and needs some luck to deny the Spaniard a larger gap after tomorrow night.

Felix Rosenqvist starts in the second row from fourth. Scott McLaughlin rounds out the top five in his beautiful throwback livery that pays tribute to Helio Castroneves’ 2009 Indy 500 victory.

Meyer Shank Racing placed both cars inside the top six when Marcus Armstrong put down his lap time for the place.

Then, Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden complete the fourth row. Newgarden leads all active drivers with 5 wins at Gateway. He and Team Penske look to make it back to victory lane for the first time since their Phoenix win earlier this season – another short oval.

Pato O’Ward, and Alexander Rossi completes the top ten starters.

Below is the full starting lineup for the Bommartio Automotive Group 500.

Starting Lineup