Quick Read
- Alex Palou won the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg by a record 12.4948-second margin.
- This was Palou’s 20th career victory, placing him in pursuit of a fourth consecutive NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship.
- Mick Schumacher’s IndyCar debut ended on Lap 1 due to a multi-car crash.
- Dale Coyne Racing drivers Romain Grosjean (P8) and Dennis Hauger (P10) achieved unexpected top-10 finishes.
- The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season continues on March 7 at Phoenix Raceway.
ST. PETERSBURG (Azat TV) – Alex Palou, the reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, once again asserted his dominance, securing a commanding victory at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 1, 2026. This win marks a powerful start to the 2026 season for the Chip Ganassi Racing driver, who is now pursuing an unprecedented fourth consecutive championship, and sets an early benchmark for the highly anticipated season.
Palou’s performance on the unforgiving Streets of St. Pete circuit was nothing short of historic, as he crossed the finish line with a staggering 12.4948-second lead over second-place finisher Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske. This margin broke the record for the largest win differential at the St. Petersburg event, signaling Palou’s continued era of supremacy in IndyCar racing, as reported by *IndyCar.com*.
Palou’s Unstoppable Start to the 2026 IndyCar Season
Starting from fourth position, Alex Palou steadily worked his way to the front, executing a flawless race strategy alongside his longtime strategist Barry Wanser. The decisive moment came between Laps 36 and 42 when, after a round of pit stops, Palou emerged in the lead and never looked back. His No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda demonstrated exceptional speed and tire management, even with new INDYCAR rules mandating the use of at least two sets of softer Firestone Firehawk alternate tires during the race. “This team keeps on improving, keeps on making new changes, and they just keep on raising the bar,” Palou stated, reflecting on his 20th career victory in just his 99th start, according to *IndyStar*.
Scott McLaughlin, who secured pole position during qualifying, finished second despite a challenging first stint. Christian Lundgaard of McLaren rounded out the podium, gaining nine positions during the race to secure third place.
Schumacher’s Debut and Veteran Challenges in St. Petersburg
The 2026 season opener also saw the highly anticipated debut of Mick Schumacher with RLL. However, his race was cut short on Lap 1 after being caught in a multi-car incident involving Sting Ray Robb of Juncos and Santino Ferrucci of AJ Foyt. Schumacher, who qualified P21, expressed disappointment, telling Fox’s Bob Pockrass, “Unfortunately, our real target was to finish the race, get all the laps in that we wanted, but we got even less than that. I’m still happy about all the knowledge we gained throughout this weekend and the things we can definitely take forward into Phoenix.”
Several veteran drivers also faced early challenges. Two-time champion Will Power, making his Andretti Global debut on his 45th birthday, retired from the race after an early wall clip led to a suspected tire puncture and broken suspension component. Six-time champion Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi also suffered tire issues, first a suspected puncture and later a loose wheel nut that forced his retirement on Lap 40. These incidents highlighted the demanding nature of the St. Petersburg street circuit and the critical role of Firestone tires, which have been the series’ provider for over 25 years, as noted by *SI.com*.
Dale Coyne Racing’s Unexpected IndyCar Success
One of the most surprising outcomes of the Firestone Grand Prix was the strong performance of Dale Coyne Racing. Often considered a backmarker team, both of their drivers, Romain Grosjean and rookie Dennis Hauger, qualified in the top six and finished in the top 10 (Grosjean P8, Hauger P10). Grosjean attributed the team’s newfound speed to their experienced engineering group, including Mitch Davis, Bill Pappas, Mike Cannon, and Mike Colliver. This significant improvement follows a 2025 season where the team managed only one podium and seven top-10 finishes across two drivers, making their St. Petersburg results a remarkable turnaround.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series Schedule
The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season is set to be a captivating one, expected to draw increased viewership in its second year of partnership with Fox. The season features a robust schedule of races across street courses, road courses, and ovals. Following the St. Petersburg opener, the series heads to Phoenix Raceway for its first oval race of the season on Saturday, March 7. Other key races include the Indianapolis 500 on May 24, and events in Long Beach, Detroit, and Nashville, culminating in the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, on September 6.
Alex Palou’s dominant victory at St. Petersburg not only signifies his continued pursuit of championship glory but also underscores the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ dynamic appeal, attracting new talent like Mick Schumacher and showcasing unexpected team turnarounds, setting a compelling narrative for the 2026 season.