One week into the busiest month of the year for Indycar, the series heads to Indianapolis for the Sonsio Grand Prix before the biggest race on the calendar. The stakes at the Brickyard are high, as the top 10 in the championship are closer than ever before, and the leader, Alex Palou, already has three wins out of five races in his bag.
IMS road course track breakdown
The 2.439-mile-long road course is carved inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, featuring 14 turns. It shares the iconic main straight with the oval, as well as the heavy braking zone of Turn 1, which consistently provides the best overtaking opportunities of the race. Drivers must navigate a series of chicanes and wide corners that demand great precision, without losing the optimal racing line.
The Indianapolis road course has hosted races of various series in the past, including MotoGP and Formula 1, with different layouts. Indycar held its first Grand Prix there in 2014, after the course was modified to suit the cars and provide competitive racing.
What happened at the 2025 Sonsio Grand Prix
Last year’s Sonsio Grand Prix was a dominant display by Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing. The Spaniard secured both the pole position and the race win, as well as the fastest lap of the race. Alongside Palou on the podium were Pato O’Ward in second and Will Power, who scored a season-best, in third.
The race had clean but intense battles, with the top five finishing within a relatively tight window (around nine seconds), proving how crucial strategy and track position are in these circumstances. Graham Rahal had a stellar performance, leading 50 laps and fighting it out with Palou, until the Ganassi driver passed him and trailed into the distance to eventually claim the win.
The Month of May in Indycar
The Sonsio Grand Prix will be the opening act for a month of intense racing at IMS. For the drivers, the race is a great chance to build momentum and get a massive confidence boost heading into practice for the 500 and returning to an oval race after Phoenix back in March. Once the checkered flag drops on the Sonsio Grand Prix, the speedway returns to its oval configuration, and all eyes are on Memorial Day weekend. The drivers get down to work with seven oval practice sessions, simulating how the car handles in the traffic of a 33-car pack.
The Month of May is a real cultural phenomenon, with its own traditions and events across Indianapolis. It’s the time of the year that rookies are most excited for, and veterans look forward to after months of training. The crucial moment in a driver’s pursuit of greatness, and the chance to leave a mark in racing history.
Championship standings before the Sonsio Grand Prix
Coming into Indianapolis, the 2026 title race is beginning to take shape, with a familiar face at the top spot. Palou holds a 17-point lead over Andretti driver Kyle Kirkwood, who has emerged as a consistent threat this season. Meanwhile, behind them is David Malukas, enjoying a great start to the year in his new seat at Team Penske.
- Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) 205 points
- Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti Global) 188 points
- David Malukas (Team Penske) 142 points
- Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren) 136 points
- Christian Lundgaard (Arrow McLaren) 131 points
- Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) 130 points
- Scott McLaughlin (Team Penske) 127 points
- Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) 120 points
- Felix Rosenqvist (Meyer Shank Racing) 109 points
- Graham Rahal (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) 106 points
Feature Image Credit: Indycar
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