Scott McLaughlin Claims IndyCar St. Pete Pole; Coyne Shines in Fast 6
Scott McLaughlin secured pole position for the 2026 IndyCar season opener at the St. Petersburg race. The 32-year-old driver from New Zealand clocked a stunning 1m00.5426s, achieving an average speed of 107.032 mph on the challenging 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit.
Key Performances and Highlights
McLaughlin’s impressive performance means he will lead the field at the start of the race. Close behind him was Marcus Ericsson, who drove the No. 28 Andretti Global Honda, finishing just 0.0195 seconds shy of pole. Rookie Dennis Hauger, last year’s Indy NXT champion, surprised many by taking third place in his Dale Coyne Racing entry, only 0.0317 seconds off McLaughlin’s pace.
Other notable finishes included reigning champion Alex Palou, who landed fourth in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, and David Malukas, who finished fifth in his first race with Team Penske. Romain Grosjean rounded out the top six, driving another Dale Coyne Racing Honda.
Round of 12 Drama
- Grosjean faced a setback when he was penalized for an incident in Turn 10, impacting his best lap.
- Despite this, he managed to post a solid time of 1m00.7452s, ensuring his advancement.
- Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong was the first to be eliminated, followed by Pato O’Ward, who drives for Arrow McLaren.
Group Eliminations
The opening round of qualifying also featured surprises. Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden struggled, finishing last in his group after a mistake in Turn 13, placing him 23rd for the race. In another group, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon and ECR’s Christian Rasmussen also faced difficulties.
- Alexander Rossi ended up at the bottom of his group, securing the last starting position at 25th.
This event sets the stage for an exciting start to the IndyCar season, showcasing both veteran talent and promising newcomers.
