Alex Palou crashes in qualifying, drops to 12th for Markham Indy race
Championship leader Alex Palou spun into the wall during the Round of 12 at Markham, falling to 12th place in qualifying.
Reigning champion Alex Palou, who tops the 2026 IndyCar standings, recorded the quickest lap in the Round of 12 on the new 12-turn Markham street circuit, posting a 1m13.8s time. Seconds later he lost rear traction in Turn 10, collided with the barrier and damaged the right-front and left-rear of his #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, then spun into the runoff area. The red-flag stoppage removed his two fastest laps, dropping him to 12th in the session.
Palou blamed his own over-driving, noting the car’s speed but acknowledging the mistake. A grid penalty to Alexander Rossi moves Palou up to an 11th-place start, his deepest grid position since the 2024 Nashville finale. He emphasized the car’s pace as his main advantage for the upcoming race.
Why it matters
The crash removes the points leader from a top-10 start, potentially reshaping the race outcome.
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