Palou to start 8th, Ericsson 17th in Gallagher GP

The 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES points leader will start Saturday’s Gallagher Grand Prix from the eighth spot on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course – the site of his GMR Grand Prix win last May.

But even though his qualification effort was the second-lowest he’s recorded on a road or street course this season for Chip Ganassi Racing, he remains confident behind the wheel of the No. 10 American Legion Honda.

Palou will actually start in the eighth position, due to being moved up following grid penalties assessed to three other cars following last weekend’s Music City Grand Prix. And he’ll do so with an 84-point lead over second-place Josef Newgarden, who qualified 19th for Saturday’s race.

“Confident for tomorrow, but obviously a bit bummed not being in the Fast Six,” Palou said via INDYCAR. “We're starting (P8) tomorrow, right? So, it's not a bad starting position. We can do a lot from there, especially being such a long race with the strategy.”

Palou will look to continue his remarkably consistent season that includes four wins, eight podium finishes – including a third in last weekend’s Music City Grand Prix – and top-10 finishes in all 13 races.

CGR teammate Marcus Ericsson, currently fifth in the season standings, qualified 18th and will start 17th after the grid adjustment. He’ll also carry American Legion branding on his Huski Ice Spritz Honda. Ericsson has four top-five finishes and has 11 top 10s, including an eighth in the GMR Grand Prix.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal will start from the No. 1 position after winning the pole, his first since 2017.

Saturday’s race will be broadcast on both USA and Peacock beginning at 2 p.m. ET.