PALOU WINS IN LONG BEACH AND IS BACK TO CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD
Alex Palou delivered another strong performance to win the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, securing his third victory of the 2026 season. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver took the lead during the pit stops and controlled the race from there.
Felix Rosenqvist was the fastest driver in qualifying for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, taking pole position with a strong lap. He had to beat a lap from Alex Palou, who made a small mistake that slowed him down. Pato O’Ward came close but finished just behind Rosenqvist. Palou ended up third, with Kyle Kirkwood in fourth after some small errors during his lap.
Other drivers also had interesting sessions. Scott Dixon surprised many by making it into the final round of qualifying with a very strong last sector. David Malukas qualified fifth, while Will Power missed out on the final round. Scott McLaughlin, Kyffin Simpson, Graham Rahal, Christian Lundgaard, and Rinus VeeKay completed the top 12.
In the race, however, it was Alex Palou who came out on top. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver drove a calm and smart race to win. Although Rosenqvist led for most of the race, Palou’s team made a better pit stop during the only caution period, allowing him to take the lead. From there, Palou built a gap and controlled the race until the finish.
Rosenqvist finished second after leading many laps but losing the lead in the pits. Scott Dixon finished third thanks to a great pit stop that helped him gain positions. Kyle Kirkwood tried to challenge Dixon late in the race but could not pass him.
Pato O’Ward started on the front row but lost places early and could not fight for the win. He finished fifth. David Malukas also lost positions after a slow pit stop and ended further down the order. Will Power had a difficult race and received a penalty after making contact with a crew member in the pit lane, which dropped him to the back.
The race was mostly calm, with strategies playing an important role. Some drivers tried different pit strategies, but most of the front runners chose a two-stop race. A late caution brought the field together, but Palou managed the restart well and pulled away from the others.
In the end, Palou showed once again why he is one of the best drivers in the series, taking another win in the 2026 season.
Share this content:
