Álex Palou sent shockwaves through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the first day of practice for the 2026 Indy 500, but not in the way anyone expected. The reigning champion, driving his championship-winning Ganassi chassis, caused a panic when he radioed his team with just under two hours left in the session: “I think something is broken in the right rear.”
The team immediately brought the car to the garage and spent over an hour meticulously inspecting it—only to find no mechanical issue. With just 12 minutes remaining, Palou returned to the track near the bottom of the speed charts. But instead of playing it safe, he quickly began overtaking cars and building confidence. In a stunning turnaround, he clocked the fastest lap of the day at 225.937 mph, making it look effortless.
“It was more of a balance issue—I wasn’t happy with how it felt,” Palou explained afterward. “Nothing mechanical, but we found something that explained my feeling, and it was great to get back out and regain trust.” The 2025 winner was driving the same car he used in last year’s victory, and he emphasized the importance of getting comfortable quickly.
The session also saw strong performances from Marcus Armstrong (second, 225.895 mph), Conor Daly (third, 225.838 mph), and Josef Newgarden (fourth). Scott Dixon rounded out the top five. While Palou’s speed came in traffic, the Andretti team impressed in no-tow speed runs—a key indicator for qualifying—with Kyle Kirkwood, Will Power, and Marcus Ericsson leading that category. Palou ranked 16th in those laps.
Despite the early fright, Palou’s ability to deliver the fastest lap under pressure sent a clear message to his rivals: he’s ready to defend his crown.