Alex Palou, the reigning four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, launched his 2026 season by repeating his triumph at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver once again guided his Honda-powered #10 car to victory on the streets of St. Pete, underscoring his continued dominance in the series. Palou’s win here marks a strong continuation of the momentum he carried from 2025, when he captured eight race victories, including triumphs at both St. Pete and the Indianapolis 500.
Race Details and Performance of Other Honda Drivers
This latest success elevates Palou’s career tally to 20 NTT INDYCAR SERIES wins, all achieved with Honda power, across 99 starts. Fellow Honda drivers also displayed strong performances at the season opener. Kyle Kirkwood, racing on home soil in Florida, impressed by moving from 15th on the grid up to fourth place by the end of the 100-lap event. Despite briefly holding second position during the final stint, Kirkwood faced tire wear issues that caused him to slip in the closing laps.
Other notable Honda-powered finishers included Marcus Ericsson from Andretti Global, who claimed sixth place, and Romain Grosjean of Dale Coyne Racing, who finished eighth. Rookie Dennis Hauger, also representing Dale Coyne Racing, rounded out the top ten positions, further contributing to Honda’s strong showing.
Statements from Drivers and Team Representatives
Reflecting on his victory, Alex Palou expressed his excitement:
“We did it, we’re back baby! We just won here again in St. Pete and it was an amazing race. We just felt like we had so much power today from Honda. We couldn’t have started the season in a better way. I’m so pumped, so happy. Thank you to all the fans that came to the track this weekend and to those watching at home. I already can’t wait for Phoenix next week!”
– Alex Palou, #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda driver
Kyle Kirkwood also shared his thoughts on the race and his own progress through the field:
“It was a great day overall for the #27 crew and for Honda with Palou’s win and us in fourth. We were running in second for the majority of that last stint, but I ultimately just had too much tire degradation. It was beautiful race, and we had some beautiful pace. Everything went great—reliability, fuel saving, everything was up to par. We drove from 15th to fourth, which is a huge deal in the IndyCar series. Everybody knows how hard that is to accomplish, so it was a big day for us in the #27 car.”
– Kyle Kirkwood, #27 Andretti Global Honda driver
David Salters, President of Honda Racing Corporation USA, highlighted the significance of the team’s accomplishment:
“It’s so great to get the season underway. Congratulations to IndyCar, this place was packed this weekend. Racing is very much alive and well in St. Pete, which was delightful to see. Huge congratulations to the mythical Alex Palou, who did what Alex Palou does, with the mythical CGR team who did what they do best. And of course, my heartfelt thanks to all the men and women at Honda Racing Corporation USA who worked hard during the winter with full attention to detail and continue to show what they are made of and work together brilliantly. This is a great start to the season. We realize how tough this is to achieve and we take nothing for granted. Well done, team!”
– David Salters, President, Honda Racing Corporation USA
Looking Ahead: Next Steps for the INDYCAR Series
Following the excitement of St. Petersburg, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will shift focus to a challenging doubleheader weekend at Phoenix Raceway. Scheduled for March 7th, the Good Ranchers 250 will see these top drivers face a fresh set of competition alongside the NASCAR Cup Series. With momentum firmly on his side, Alex Palou and his Chip Ganassi Racing team aim to continue their strong performance as the 2026 campaign unfolds.
