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Indy 500 Row by Row Starting Lineup – The 2026 Indy 500 starting lineup is here for American racing fans eager to relive the drama of the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Held on May 24, 2026, at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway, this year’s grid featured defending champion Alex Palou on pole and a mix of IndyCar veterans, rising stars, and rookies battling for the Borg-Warner Trophy in America’s greatest motorsport spectacle.
Whether you’re searching for the 2026 Indianapolis 500 row-by-row starting lineup, full qualifying speeds, or official grid details, this guide breaks it all down using trusted sources like the official IndyCar starting lineup PDF and major U.S. outlets such as NBC Sports and IndyStar.
How the 2026 Indy 500 Starting Grid Was Set?
Qualifying for the 2026 Indy 500 followed the traditional multi-day format but was condensed due to rain on May 16, shifting everything to May 17. Drivers competed in a full-field session to lock positions 13-33, followed by the Top 12 and Fast Six shootouts. Alex Palou delivered a blistering 232.248 mph four-lap average to claim his second Indy 500 pole.
Post-qualifying penalties moved two drivers to the rear: Caio Collet (#4) and Jack Harvey (#24) started at the back due to technical infractions involving unapproved hardware, with Collet ahead of Harvey per IndyCar rules.
2026 Indy 500 Pole Position and Front Row Highlights
The front row showcased international talent with strong U.S. representation. Palou led the way for Chip Ganassi Racing, joined by two-time Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi and Team Penske’s David Malukas. American fans cheered Rossi’s strong qualifying run in the No. 20 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing.
Full Row-by-Row 2026 Indy 500 Starting Lineup
Here is the complete 2026 Indy 500 row-by-row starting lineup, including car numbers, teams, engines, and qualifying speeds where available (sourced directly from the official IndyCar report).
Row 1: The Fastest Qualifiers for the 2026 Indy 500
- Alex Palou (#10, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 232.248 mph)
- Alexander Rossi (#20, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 231.990 mph)
- David Malukas (#12, Team Penske, Chevrolet, 231.877 mph)
Row 2 of the 2026 Indy 500 Grid
- Felix Rosenqvist (#60, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian, Honda, 231.375 mph)
- Santino Ferrucci (#14, AJ Foyt Racing, Chevrolet, 230.846 mph)
- Pato O’Ward (#5, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet, 230.442 mph)
Row 3: Mid-Pack Contenders in the Indianapolis 500 Lineup
- Kyffin Simpson (#8, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 230.883 mph)
- Conor Daly (#23, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Chevrolet, 230.712 mph)
- Scott McLaughlin (#3, Team Penske, Chevrolet, 230.577 mph)
Row 4: Veteran Experience on the 2026 Indy 500 Starting Grid
- Scott Dixon (#9, Chip Ganassi Racing, Honda, 230.347 mph)
- Rinus VeeKay (#76, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet, 229.585 mph)
- Takuma Sato (#75, RLL Racing, Honda)
Row 5: The Most Experienced Row in the 2026 Indianapolis 500
- Ed Carpenter (#33, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 230.829 mph)
- Helio Castroneves (#06, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian, Honda, 230.811 mph)
- Christian Rasmussen (#21, Ed Carpenter Racing, Chevrolet, 230.705 mph)
Row 6 of the 2026 Indy 500 Starting Lineup
- Marcus Armstrong (#66, Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian, Honda, 230.701 mph)
- Marcus Ericsson (#28, Andretti Global, Honda, 230.667 mph)
- Christian Lundgaard (#7, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet, 230.661 mph)
Row 7: Power and Rising Stars on the Indianapolis 500 Grid
- Will Power (#26, Andretti Global, Honda, 230.279 mph)
- Nolan Siegel (#6, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet, 230.213 mph)
- Louis Foster (#45, RLL Racing, Honda, 230.212 mph)
Row 8: Former Winners and International Talent
- Ryan Hunter-Reay (#31, Arrow McLaren, Chevrolet, 230.202 mph)
- Josef Newgarden (#2, Team Penske, Chevrolet, 230.165 mph)
- Romain Grosjean (#18, Dale Coyne Racing, Honda, 229.791 mph)
Row 9: Rookies and Veterans Mixing It Up
- Kyle Kirkwood (#27, Andretti Global, Honda, 229.607 mph)
- Katherine Legge (#11, HMD Motorsports w/ AJ Foyt Racing, Chevrolet, 229.456 mph)
- Mick Schumacher (R) (#47, RLL Racing, Honda, 229.450 mph)
Row 10: The Back Half of the 2026 Indy 500 Field
- Graham Rahal (#15, RLL Racing, Honda, 229.017 mph)
- Dennis Hauger (R) (#19, Dale Coyne Racing, Honda, 228.982 mph)
- Jacob Abel (R) (#51, Abel Motorsports, Chevrolet, 228.169 mph)
Row 11: Rear of the Field with Penalty Adjustments
- Sting Ray Robb (#77, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Chevrolet, 226.572 mph)
- Caio Collet (R) (#4, AJ Foyt Racing, Chevrolet) – started at rear due to penalty
- Jack Harvey (#24, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, Chevrolet) – started at rear due to penalty
Key Storylines from the 2026 Indy 500 Starting Lineup
Four rookies made the field, including Mick Schumacher starting 27th. The grid featured six former Indy 500 winners, and U.S. drivers like Rossi, Malukas, Newgarden, and Carpenter gave American fans plenty to root for. The penalties added extra drama heading into the green flag.
Where to Find the Official 2026 Indy 500 Starting Lineup?
For the most accurate Indy 500 row-by-row starting lineup, download the official PDF from IndyCar.com or visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway live grid page. News sites like NBC Sports, IndyStar, and AutoWeek also provide clean visuals and updates tailored for U.S. fans.
Bookmark this page or share it with fellow racing enthusiasts—the 2026 Indy 500 starting lineup remains one of the most discussed topics in American open-wheel racing. If you’re planning for 2027 or looking for race recaps, check back with official IndyCar and IMS sources for the latest.