It’s to the point where I can recycle the headline to my qualifications stories. Not only did Palou win the pole for this afternoon’s Sonsio Grand Prix, he won it by a half second over Pato O’Ward. Palou was the only driver to turn a lap under 1 minute 10 seconds.
Palou turned a blazing quick final lap in Rounf=d one to go from 13th to first. The next two rounds were justto make it official.
O’Ward expressed concern yesterday that he would end up in the lower half of the field. He was hoping qualifying would be in the rain yesterday to give his Arrow McLaren car a chance.
“We turned it around,” O’Ward said after aid after qualifying.
Felix Rosenqvist continued his strong qualifying efforts and will start third.
Five teams earned spots in the Fast Six while six different teams advanced from each first round group.
Most disappointing result has to be Kyle Kirkwood’s ninth place starting spot. It will be difficult for Kirkwood to keep with Palou in the points from there.
Notes
Will Power will start last in the 25 car field and Scott McLaughlin rolls off 18th.
Many cars began their rounds on the alternate tires. The starting tire selections will be interesting.
What started 10 years ago today as a fun little exercise has turned into a labor of love. On this date in 2016 The Pit Window first appeared online. I never thought I would still be writing this little column in 2026, nor would I have believed this space would have taken me the places it has.
In 2016, as I prepared to attend my 50th Indianapolis 500, I wrote a story about my first 500 in 1962 for my writing class at the Life Enrichment Center in Tampa. The story reeceived a positive reaction from the class. They encouraged me to post it online.
I heard from several of my friends in the racing media, who encouraged to write more stories about my race experiences. At that point, I decided to establish a blog. The original title, “The First Fifty Races are the Hardest,” was cumber4some. After about a year I changed the name to The Pit Window, whioch better reflects the theme of my column.
My good friend George Phillips of Oilpressure encouraged me to apply for media credentials. My first race as a media member was at St. Pete. Green Savoree has been very kind to me. In 2018 I earned credentials to IMS.
Writing The Pit Window has allowed to witness and learn much about IndyCar through moments of triumph and tragedy. I have seen the joy of Indianapolis 500 winners in the post race press conferences, felt the pain of drivers bumped from the field., and I was there in 2019 when the Speedway was sold to Roger Penske. I’ll never forget the atmosphere in the media cener that day.
I have many people to thank for both the creation of this blog and its continuing to this point. I apologize if I leave anyone out.
First, the wonderful folks at Life Enrichment Center who have made me a better writer. Without them, especially John, Arleen, Pat, Sherrie, and Cheryl, without them, this space does not exist.
George Phillips, Steve Wittich, and Eric Smith, all of whom gave this awkward media center newbie somemgreat tips on navigating the area.
Finally, my partner Marti Strum, who has always supported my constant travels and the time I spend time writing.
And to all my readers, many of whom have been with me since day one, and those who have come on board since and are still here. Thank you all.
A better weather forecast and a packed day of racing is in store for the IndyCar series today due to yesterday’s postponement of qualifying. The Yesterday’s session was postponed because of water pooling on the front stretch and the medical helicopter being grounded. Track action is not allowed when the medical helicopter cannot take off.
The revised schedule with broadcast times and channels:
The only cancellation is the morning warmup. All other races will go on as scheduled.
The weather calls for cool but dry conditions for qualifying and sunny and 72 degrees for race time. A little rain would greatly improve the race, however.
INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 8, 2026) – Information about Sonsio Grand Prix track activity Saturday, May 9 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, revised with schedule changes due to the rainout of NTT P1 Award qualifying Friday for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
SCHEDULE (All times local) :7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.: Public Gates Open8- 8:40 a.m.: USF 2000 Race 2 8:55-9:45 a.m.: USF Pro 2000 Race 1 10:45 a.m.:NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying 12:30-1:10 p.m.: USF 2000 Race 3 1:20-2:05 p.m.: USF Pro 2000 Race 2 2:38 p.m.: INDY NXT by Firestone Race 2 (30 laps )4:57 p.m.: NTT INDYCAR SERIES Sonsio Grand Prix (85 laps)
TICKETS: General Admission tickets are $50. $65 for flex ticket seating in Northwest Vista (Sections 11-20), Southwest Vista (Sections 1-10), North Vista ADA (Sections 26-30), Tower Terrace (Sections 37-47, 75-79), Paddock (Section 9-14) and Pit Road Terrace and ADA. Children 15 and under are admitted free with general admission and flex ticket paying adult. Reserved seats range from $67-$150.
PARKING: Paid public parking is available in Lot 1A, Lot 2, Lot 3P, and Main Gate lots for $20. Gate 1 Lot parking is available for $50. Motorcycle parking is also available at South Carousel Lot for $20. Paid ADA parking is available for $20 in Lot 3P, Lot 2, $25 in the Northwest Gravel Lot, the West Museum Lot, the Flag Lot and the Tower Suites Lot and $50 for Gate 1 Lot. Infield vehicle parking is located inside Turn 3 and Turn 2 for ADA parking with a pre-purchased parking pass. Free and ADA parking is located in Lot 7 (North 40), accessible only via Gate 10 off 30th Street.
CASHLESS OPERATIONS: Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a cashless facility. Please be prepared to complete your ticket, credentials, parking, concession and merchandise purchases with ease during your event via debit or credit card.Tap-to-pay phone payments will be accepted, as will credit and debit transactions. A Cash-to-Card machine, which converts paper money to a temporary debit card, will be in Pagoda Plaza. These funds can be spent inside the venue, outside the venue, online or anywhere in the world where Mastercard/Visa debit cards are accepted.
MUSEUM: The IMS Museum is open from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission tickets are $25 for adults, Seniors (55 or older) are $23, Military is $18. Tickets can be purchase online at imsmuseum.org.
IndyCar called an abrupt halt to today’s Sonsio Grand Prix qualifying due to the excessive moisture on the track.
Qualifying will take place at 10:45 am Eastern time Saturday morning. Coverage begins pn FS2 at 10:30 and switches to FS1 at 11:30, The scheduled warm up session is cancelled. Ther race will start at its original time.
While Firestone does supply a rain tire, the amount of water on the front stretch made running impossible. Since the IMS road course isn’t a true road course, there is nowhere for the water on the front stretch to go.
Practice ewaults were predictable except for Pato O’Ward, who was off the pace. O’Ward believes the number 5 car is in trouble for the race and qualifying.
The highlight of the day was the IndyNXT race which started in dry conditions, but ended as a timed race in the rain. it was arguably one of the best races on the road course here.
Enzo Fittipaldi, grandson of two time 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi, won the race with a daring pass on leader Lochie Hughes.
I will have more tomorrow morning on some exploring I did this afternoon. Thanks for following along today.
It’s a sunny but cool morning as the first practice round for the IndyCar Sonsio Grand Prix has just ended. I’m not going to be a spoiler and mention which Alex Palou led the session.
As I drove by Gate 2 this morning there was quite a line of cars waiting to get in the tnto the track, and it took a few minutes to enter Lot 2 as well.
Today’s forecast calls for rain beginning around 3 pm and continuing through IndyCar qualifying at 5:30 this evening.
IndyNXT is on track at the moment while we wait for the final results from IndyCar practice. The next IndyCar practice is at 1:05 pm on FS1. Qualifying is onFS2.
I’m going to wander around the track and see what is new for 2026.
It’s finally time. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway opens for the fortnight of May today with practice and qualifying for the Sonsio Grand Prix. Indy NXT will race twice this weekend, and USF 2000 and USF Pro 2000 will have multiple race as well.
The timing is great for IndyCar after a week of controversy over the Long Beach Push to Pass incident, and the unveiling of a T-shirt for the race in Washington, D. C,. that was in my opinion in extremely poor taste.
Weather may be a facto today for qualifying, but race day should be dry. I wish the forecasts were reversed, as this race is a much better event when run in the rain.
This race has gone through several name changes before Sonsio and their affiliates began sponsoring the event. The first race was simply called the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, Then the Angie’s list GP, featuring a hideous green banner on the front stretch. I don’t miss that at all.
Since the May race on the IMS road course began in 2014, only four active drivers have this specific event- Will Power, Alex Palou, Scott Dixon, and Rinus VeeKay. Power and Palou have each won three races. Power won three in a row from 2016-2018. Palou has taken the last three and goes for an unprecedented fourth straight on Saturday.
Is 2026 Rahal’s Year?
Graham Rahal has done well at the IMS road course. he has two front row starts, and he nearly won the 2023 summer race from pole. Rahal is having a good season with a podium at Barber. He might be the one to stop the Palou juggernaut.
Keeping It Close
No matter where Palou finishes, Kyle Kirkwood needs to run somewhere near the points leader to stay within shouting distance. Kirkwood trails Palou by just 17 points, the only driver less than a full race behind the leader.
Kirkwood finished fifth at Barber and lost 24 points to Palou. He can’t afford to lose that many again.
I’m predicting another Palou win, which will put him in some elite company of drivers who have won four straight at a single track. The list includes A.J. Foyt at DuQuoin, Al Unser, Jr at Long Beach., and Bobby Rahal, at Laguna Seca.
Notes
IMS is very close to a sellout for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. An announcement coul\d come this weekend.
The 2028 car will begin testing this summer, possibly late June or early July. The car will use the current engine for the first test, with the new engine installed in tests later in the year.
Drivers seem to be confused by the new Push to Pass procedure. There was a discussion between the top two drivers in pints at today’s media availability. My take is if all drivers use the boost at the start, it’s the same as if no one uses it. The starts and restarts won’t look any different.
There could be chaos if some drivers are not aware of the procedure.
The Pit Window by Mike Silver 