Palou Steals Milwaukee Pole with Last-Gasp Run

Alex Palou has silenced any lingering doubts about his oval credentials with a stunning final-run effort to grab pole for the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250.

The four-time and reigning INDYCAR SERIES champion left it late but produced a two-lap average of 162.971 mph in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to secure his sixth pole of 2025. It’s also his second on an oval this season after starting up front – and winning – in Iowa.

“I knew I had a good car,” Palou said. “I just wanted to get everything out of it, so I just fired as much speed as I think it could handle and a little bit more, and it sticks. It feels amazing to get a pole here.”

Palou’s 2025 campaign has already entered the history books. With his third straight title wrapped up two weeks ago at Portland, he has stacked eight wins and now 12 career poles – including the Indy 500 back in 2023.

David Malukas looked certain to take a career-first pole until Palou’s late flyer. The A.J. Foyt driver had set a 162.256 mph run in his No. 4 Chevrolet, only to be edged off the top spot at the death. “As soon as I saw that first lap, saw him come out of Turn 4, I was like, ‘All right, that one looked pretty good,’” Malukas admitted.

Pato O’Ward kept Arrow McLaren in the fight with third, just ahead of 2024 Milwaukee winner Scott McLaughlin in the Penske Chevrolet. Six-time champ Scott Dixon qualified fifth but will serve a nine-spot grid penalty for an engine change, handing fellow Kiwi McLaughlin a clearer run from the second row.

Team Penske had a solid showing, with Will Power sixth and Josef Newgarden eighth, as the squad looks to break its win drought on ovals.

There was drama further back, with Felix Rosenqvist backing his Meyer Shank Honda into the Turn 4 SAFER Barrier, while Colton Herta also flirted with disaster after a half-spin in Turn 2 but somehow kept it out of the wall.

The race starts Sunday at 2 p.m. ET (Monday 4 a.m. AEST), with Palou leading the field to green at Milwaukee’s historic one-mile oval.

Milwaukee Qualifying – Starting Grid

Position – Driver – Time

1. Alex Palou – 00:44.8422

2. David Malukas – 00:45.0400

3. Pato O’Ward – 00:45.0894

4. Scott McLaughlin – 00:45.1785

5. Scott Dixon – 00:45.4052*

6. Will Power – 00:45.4424

7. Kyle Kirkwood – 00:45.5745

8. Josef Newgarden – 00:45.5809

9. Conor Daly – 00:45.6233

10. Christian Rasmussen – 00:45.6298

11. Graham Rahal – 00:45.6765

12. Rinus VeeKay – 00:45.8143

13. Alexander Rossi – 00:45.8532

14. Marcus Ericsson – 00:45.9372

15. Devlin DeFrancesco – 00:45.9486

16. Marcus Armstrong – 00:45.9572

17. Christian Lundgaard – 00:46.0198

18. Nolan Siegel – 00:46.1566

19. Sting Ray Robb – 00:46.2084

20. Kyffin Simpson – 00:46.2147

21. Robert Shwartzman – 00:46.2501

22. Louis Foster – 00:46.3914

23. Santino Ferrucci – 00:46.5887

24. Jacob Abel – 00:46.6671

25. Callum Ilott – 00:46.7085

26. Colton Herta – 01:04.8350

27. Felix Rosenqvist – No Time

*Dixon to serve a nine-place penalty for an engine change.