Alex Palou won the Indy 500 pole. That may not mean much.
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Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Alex Palou will attempt his title defense from pole position.
Recent history suggests, however, that his road to victory might not be easy.
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Since 2000, five drivers have won the Indy 500 from pole position: Buddy Rice, Sam Hornish Jr., Scott Dixon, Helio Castroneves, and Simon Pagenaud. However, just one (Pagenaud in 2019) achieved that feat in the last 15 years. Castroneves, Dixon, Hornish Jr., and Rice all won in 2009 or earlier.
Still, pole has been one of the better places to start: since 2000, 19.2% of winners started first, tied with third for the highest share of any starting position.
The Spaniard has dominated IndyCar over the past three seasons, as he’s won the series title all three years. In 2026, Palou won three out of six races en route to a 27-point championship lead.
But his dominance has come largely on road courses and street circuits. The 2025 win at Indy was his first-ever at an oval.
In five previous attempts before his win at the Brickyard, Palou finished second (2021), fourth (2023), fifth (2024), ninth (2022), and 28th (2020). That’s an average finish of 9.6. In recent years, the average finish for the pole sitter hasn’t been any better: the six Indy 500 pole sitters since 2020 have finished 14.5 on average.
All told, while history says winning from pole is no guarantee, Palou’s resume makes him one of the few drivers capable of bending it.
Methodology note: USA TODAY reviewed Indianapolis Motor Speedway race summaries from 2000-2025. Pole-sitter finishes reflect official classified race results.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chart: Alex Palou’s Indy 500 pole does not guarantee a win