McLaughlin Grabs the Pole on the Streets of St. Pete as IndyCar beings 2026
Scott McLaughlin will lead the field to green for the IndyCar Series season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. He put together the fastest lap in qualifying and locked down the pole for the 100-lap race on the tight 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit.
Marcus Ericsson joins him on the front row after a strong qualifying run of his own. It’s a solid way to begin the season for Ericsson, who looks ready to contend right out of the gate.’
The surprise of the session belonged to rookie Dennis Hauger. In his first IndyCar qualifying attempt, Hauger delivered a composed and aggressive lap that puts him third on the grid. That’s a statement performance for a newcomer making his debut on a demanding street course.
Alex Palou, chasing his fourth straight drivers’ championship and looking for back-to-back wins at St. Petersburg, will roll off fourth. Starting on the second row keeps him well within striking distance once the green flag drops.
There’s plenty of talent scattered throughout this lineup. Veterans like Dixon, Power and Newgarden will have work to do from mid-pack and deeper, while several young drivers have a chance to capitalize on strong starting spots.
Race Day Schedule
Sunday, March 1 (All times ET)
9:00 a.m. – IndyCar warmup (FS1) Noon – Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Fox) Green flag scheduled for 12:29 p.m.
Street races are rarely predictable, especially in a season opener. Track position matters, strategy plays a role, and one well-timed caution can flip the script. McLaughlin has the advantage at the front, but 100 laps around St. Pete usually tell a much bigger story.
