Alex Palou continued his dominant start to the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season Sunday, winning the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach after a perfectly timed caution and a flawless final pit stop put him ahead of polesitter Felix Rosenqvist.
Rosenqvist controlled much of the race from the front, but Palou and the Chip Ganassi Racing crew delivered when it mattered most. After the race’s lone caution for debris, the leaders came to pit road together, and Palou’s No. 10 Honda beat Rosenqvist out of the pits. From there, Palou pulled away and never looked back, scoring his first career Long Beach victory and his third win in the first five races of the season.
Race Recap
Felix Rosenqvist started from pole and looked strong early, leading the opening stint while Palou quickly moved into second after getting around Pato O’Ward on Lap 2. Rosenqvist managed the gap well through the first pit cycle and appeared to have the race under control as the laps ticked away.
That changed on Lap 57 when debris brought out the only caution of the 90-lap race. The field came to pit road shortly after, and the stop became the turning point. Palou’s Chip Ganassi Racing crew gained the advantage, getting him out ahead of Rosenqvist and putting the race in his hands.
Once the green flag returned, Palou built a comfortable gap and kept Rosenqvist out of striking distance. Rosenqvist still left Long Beach with a strong runner-up finish after leading the most laps, while Scott Dixon completed the podium to give Chip Ganassi Racing two of the top three spots.
Kyle Kirkwood finished fourth, limiting the damage in the championship fight, while Pato O’Ward rounded out the top five after starting on the front row.
Top 10 Finishers
- Alex Palou
- Felix Rosenqvist
- Scott Dixon
- Kyle Kirkwood
- Pato O’Ward
- Scott McLaughlin
- David Malukas
- Graham Rahal
- Alexander Rossi
- Kyffin Simpson
Performance Highlights
Biggest movers: Alexander Rossi had one of the best recovery drives of the day, climbing from 18th to ninth for a strong top-10 finish. Nolan Siegel also made a big move through the field, going from 25th to 12th and nearly cracking the top 10.
Most points / high-point runs: Palou maximized the day with the win, while Rosenqvist turned pole position and a race-high 51 laps led into a valuable runner-up finish. Dixon’s third-place run was another classic veteran performance, using clean execution and pit work to turn a solid day into a podium.
Quietly strong: Graham Rahal put together a clean and productive drive from 10th to eighth, giving Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing a solid finish on a demanding street circuit. Kyffin Simpson also delivered a steady top-10 result for Chip Ganassi Racing, finishing 10th after starting ninth.
Crashes / Near-Misses
The race itself stayed relatively clean by Long Beach standards, with the only caution coming for debris on Lap 57. That yellow ended up deciding the race because it brought the leaders to pit road together and gave Palou’s crew the chance to jump Rosenqvist.
Will Power’s race took a hit after the final pit sequence when he was penalized for contact with a pit crew member, dropping him down the order after running inside the top 10 earlier in the day. Marcus Ericsson was the lone major retirement, falling out after 38 laps with a mechanical issue.
What it Means
Long Beach was another statement from Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing. Even on a day when Rosenqvist had the pace and track position for most of the race, Palou stayed close enough to capitalize when the opportunity came.
For Rosenqvist, it was a bittersweet second-place finish. He had the car to win, led the most laps, and controlled the race early, but one pit exchange changed everything. Still, the result was a major boost for Meyer Shank Racing and showed that Rosenqvist can be a consistent threat on street circuits.
For the championship, Palou’s win only strengthened the feeling that everyone else is chasing the No. 10 team. Five races into the season, he already has three victories, a Long Beach breakthrough, and the kind of momentum that makes him look like the clear title favorite.
