Scott McLaughlin secured his third pole position in five years at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, giving Team Penske a strong opportunity to win the season-opening race on the downtown streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. The Australian ace clocked a fastest lap of 1:00.5426 around the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary road course, reaching a best speed of 107.032 mph in his No. 3 DEX Chevrolet.
McLaughlin’s performance sets a hopeful tone for this year’s NTT IndyCar Series opener, especially after a difficult 2025 season marked by team sanctions and missed victories.
Insights from McLaughlin on His Pole Run and Team
Reflecting on his qualifying success, McLaughlin credited his engineer and the team’s experience at St. Petersburg.
Raul [Prados], my new engineer, gave me a great car,
McLaughlin said.
“But we have a lot of experience here, with a great car, as well. Just really pumped.”
Recalling last year’s challenges, including management changes and a disappointing season, he added:
Everybody knows the slog we went through last year, so to start on this note is fantastic,
he said.
After leading practice on Friday, McLaughlin described his pole-winning approach:
We said to ourselves, if we had the pace to go for pole, we’re going to go for it. So we put tires on and went after it,
he stated.
A couple of guys didn’t, obviously, but, you know, best spot to start from. I love St. Pete. It’s great to be back here in Florida. I think everyone’s enjoying the warmth… and just great. Glad for everyone at DEX, as well. This is a home race for them, so it is an added bonus when this car is up front here.
Strong Competition and Front-Row Lineup
Sharing the front row with McLaughlin will be Marcus Ericsson of Andretti Global, the 2023 St. Petersburg winner. Ericsson’s presence promises a competitive race as the green flag waves at 12:29 p.m. ET in front of a live FOX broadcast audience.
Rookie Dennis Hauger impressed by finishing third for Dale Coyne Racing. The Norwegian driver previously won the Indy NXT pole at this event last year and notched a victory in his American open-wheel debut with Andretti Global. He outqualified four-time series champion Alex Palou, who will start fourth. Palou, the 2023 series champion, began his dominant season at this event with a victory from the No. 4 position, a spot that has produced five winners historically.
McLaughlin’s new teammate David Malukas and fellow Dale Coyne driver Romain Grosjean will start on the fourth row, rounding out the strong competitor field.
Qualifying Round Surprises and Notable Absences
Several prominent drivers failed to progress to the top 12 qualifiers. Among them were two-time St. Petersburg winner Josef Newgarden and Will Power, the sport’s most successful qualifier with 71 career pole positions, including nine out of the past seventeen on this track. Power’s transition from Team Penske to Andretti Global has been rocky as he dealt with brake issues throughout the weekend.
Scott Dixon, a six-time series champion and one of the sport’s most consistent performers, also failed to make the top 12, ending a long streak of consecutive qualifications since 2013. Dixon is still hunting for his first victory at this event despite holding several runner-up finishes here.
Scott Dixon’s Quest for a St. Petersburg Victory
Dixon is heading to his 22nd start in the St. Petersburg round, aiming to finally capture the title that has eluded him. His 420th career start, including 357 straight qualifications, marks the longest such streak in IndyCar history. Victory here would move him closer to tying legendary AJ Foyt with seven series championships. Last year, Dixon finished second among five runner-up results recorded at this venue.
Practice Incidents Impact Several Teams
Saturday’s final practice session saw difficulties for multiple drivers. Will Power crashed into the turn-10 wall while battling ongoing brake locking problems. Although unharmed, Power’s No. 26 TWG AI Honda sustained significant front-end damage.
I just locked the fronts,
Power explained.
I wasn’t braking late. We had a lot of (brake) locking issues yesterday, so we changed brakes. We were hoping to fix the issue.
Christian Rasmussen also suffered a spin and collision with the concrete barrier at Turn 2, damaging his ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet but escaping injury. During Indy NXT qualifying, Mateo Nannini crashed heavily, prompting a red flag, though he too was unhurt. Enzo Fittipaldi, grandson of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi, clipped the wall and will start last in the 24-car lineup.
Rising Stars and Veteran Presence Shape the Grid
Besides Hauger’s promising rookie performance, drivers like Marcus Armstrong, Pato O’Ward, Louis Foster, Kyffin Simpson, Felix Rosenqvist, and Christian Lundgaard advanced to the top 12, highlighting a blend of youth and experience. The lineup features a competitive balance among established champions and emerging talents, setting the stage for an intense race on St. Petersburg’s challenging street circuit.
Scott McLaughlin’s pole position not only boosts Team Penske’s prospects after last year’s struggles but also signals a renewed sense of confidence and optimism within the team. With strong competition from seasoned drivers and rookies alike, Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix promises a thrilling kickoff to the IndyCar season along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
