IndyCar
Takuma Sato and Scott Dixon lead Carb Day practice for Indy 500
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato led the final Indianapolis 500 practice session before Sunday’s ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’.
Sato turned a fast lap of 227.855 mph (39.4988-seconds) in the No. 11 Deloitte Chip Ganassi Racing Honda as teams took advantage of a two-hour ‘Carb Day’ practice session.
“We had a beautiful Carb Day today,” said Sato. “All four cars are in really good shape. What’s most important is that the car reacted the way that we expected. We will get together to discuss it, but I think we have a good package. The team has done a great job.”
Sato’s quick lap was just enough to edge teammate Scott Dixon in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda who turned a fast lap of 227.285 (39.5978).
“The balance shifted a lot from Monday to today, as the conditions were a lot different,” said Dixon. “We made some adjustments but in the end, the car was really good and we could run up front and run in traffic.”
Team Penske’s Will Power was third fastest at 226.953 (39.6558) in the No 12 Verizon Chevy. Â Power turned the fastest lap in Monday’s last full 500 practice.
Three of the four CGR cars were in the Top 5 as 500 Pole Sitter Alex Palou turned the fourth fastest lap at 226.945 in the No. 10 American Legion Honda.
“Carb Day was awesome with so many people here today,” said Palou. “I can’t even imagine what it is going to be like on Sunday. The No. 10 American Legion has been fast since the Open Test, but we’ve always wanted more. We’re trying to be a bit more comfortable and get even more speed and we got that today. We’re really happy with how we ended. Can’t wait for Sunday.”
Andretti Autosport’s Kyle Kirkwood rounded out the Top 5 blasting around the 2.5-mile oval at 226.872 mph (39.6700).
There were only two incidents during the session. Â Andretti’s Devlin Defrancesco cut a tire and RLL Racing’s Katharine Legge lost a wheel nut but recognized the loose wheel before getting up to speed. Â Both drivers prevented any damage.
Live coverage of the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 starts at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday on NBC and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
LONG BEACH, CA (April 19, 2026) – A great pit stop helped Alex Palou pass Felix Rosenqvist in the pits and Palou did the rest, winning Sunday’s NTT IndyCar Series Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
“Incredible,” said Palou, who picked up his third win of the season and 22nd of his IndyCar career. “Feel so, so lucky with the opportunity I had to win the 500 last year, the Long Beach GP this year, it just feels like I’m living on this amazing cloud of happiness.”
Rosenqvist was out front when the caution flag flew on Lap 57 for debris in turn four, which set up the showdown between the Meyer Shank Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing pit crews.
“This full-course yellow put everything on that pit stop,” said Palou. “The guys did an incredible job once again.”
“Having the pit location and the pit crew we have, it certainly was on the top of our minds coming down pit lane knowing we have a shot at getting the win here,” said Barry Wanser, No. 10 Team Manager. “Again, the guys came through.”
“That last pit cycle was kind of the defining moment,” said Rosenqvist, who led a race-high 51-laps. “I don’t even think we had that bad of a stop. We had to come around the 14. I don’t know if Alex had an open in. Details like that matter. It didn’t seem like a super slow stop, but he probably nailed it or his crew.”
Despite falling short of a win, Rosenqvist said there were plenty of positives to take away from the team’s trip to the West Coast.
“I think all in all we got to be happy as a weekend for us at Meyer Shank Racing. We had a win yesterday with Nick in IMSA. We had a pole there as well, then a pole here and a P2. We just fell short of a grand slam.”
Scott Dixon finished third in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda, giving team owner Chip Ganassi two cars on the podium and the 6-time series Champion his best finish of the season
“Huge weekend for the Ganassi cars,” said Dixon. “I think probably one of the best for qualifying between all us, which was really good. It was nice just to have a clean weekend, no major issues, no damage, no mess-ups or anything like that. That was a lot of fun.”
Palou and Dixon’s teammate Kyffin Simpson brought the No. 8 Sunoco Honda home in tenth place, so all three CGR cars finished in the Top 10.
Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood finished fourth after starting third and gave up the Championship lead to Palou. Kirkwood now trails the four-time Series Champion by 17-points.
Pato O’Ward rounded out the Top 5 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Next up for the IndyCar Series is two days of testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on April 28-29 as teams get ready for the Indianapolis 500.
The next race is the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 9, on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course at IMS, which kicks off the Month of May.
LONG BEACH, CA (April 18,, 2026) – Felix Rosenqvist is on the pole position for Sunday’s NTT IndyCar Series Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach after turning a fast lap of of 1 minute, 7.4635 seconds in the No. 60 SiriusXM/Acura Honda.
The pole capped a great day for Meyer Shank Racing who on the IMSA race on Saturday.
“So great to put it on pole here and it’s been a long time, so it feels good,” said Rosenqvist. “But what a day for Meyer Shank Racing with the win in the IMSA race today and now the pole for the IndyCar race.”
Pato O’Ward, Rosenqvist’s good friend and former teammate, will start from the front row after qualifying a season-best second at 1:07.5076 in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
“That was nerve-wracking to watch my ole buddy Pato do his run, and I wasn’t sure if we’d get it,” said Rosenqvist. “But the SiriusXM Green Day Acura has been great and hope we can have a good day tomorrow.”
“This is by far the best qualifying day I’ve had,” said O’Ward. “I’ve been happy with the car I’ve been given from practice one. Hats off to Arrow McLaren and Team Chevy. I know we’re leading their pack.”
Four-time Series Champion Alex Palou will start from the third position in the No. 10 OpenAI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda with 2026 Championship points leader Kyle Kirkwood right beside in the No. 27 JM Bullion/Gold.com Andretti Global Honda.
David Malukas will start fifth in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet, the best qualifying car for Team Penske.
Six-time Series Champion Scott Dixon will start sixth in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Â The qualifying effort was Dixon’s best of 2026.
Next up is a 30-minute warmup Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).
The 90-lap race around the 11-turn, 1.968-mile iconic temporary street circuit starts at 5:30 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).
LONG BEACH, CA (April 18, 2026) Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood is picking up right where he left off at Long Beach. Â The 2025 winner of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach was quickest in the second NTT IndyCar Series practice session at the iconic street circuit.
Kirkwood’s fast lap of 1-minute, 7.5417-seconds was 0.2333-seconds quicker than Team Penske’s David Malukas.
Saturday’s practice session was sort of similar to Friday’s session as Andretti Global and Team Penske were 1-2 on the timing chart, except Friday’s session was led by Will Power, who beat out Scott McLaughlin for the top spot.
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou was fourth quickest on both days in the No. 10 OpenAI Honda.
Knockout style qualifying takes place at 6:30 p.m. ET with the Firestone Fast Six shifting to single car attempts.
Lernerville Speedway and Tri-City Raceway Park hoping to get seasons started Friday night
Kofoid Wins A Close One
Chase Elliott snags second NASCAR Cup victory at Texas
Dietz is Ready for Outlaws
Carson Hocevar continues his roll with NASCAR Truck Series win at Texas
Ganassi 2026 Trading Cards to support PNC’s Grow Up Great partner DonorsChoose
Smith Holds off Dietz in Possee Thriller; Blair Blitzes Late Model Foes at Port Royal
Ryan Blaney charges to NASCAR Cup pole position at Bristol
Alex Palou wins Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach; Scott Dixon finishes 3rd
