4 Takeaways From INDYCAR Arlington Qualifying: From Alex Palou to the Wind
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Arlington, Texas — Alex Palou hadn't left a race weekend not as the INDYCAR points leader for 21 months. So when he exited Phoenix Raceway fifth in the standings, some would think he might have lost a little swagger. Palou knows his incredible run is over, but he qualified on the front row for the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington, where Marcus Ericsson will lead an INDYCAR field to green for the first time in his career at a new temporary 2.73-mile street circuit that winds by both the Cowboys and Rangers stadiums (Sunday, 11:30 a.m. ET) Here are my takeaways: 1. Palou Ready To Pounce Palou won the last two points races on new road/street courses as he captured the first win at the new Detroit course and also won last year at Thermal. Can he make it three in a row and cut into his 19-point deficit on leader Josef Newgarden. [ARLINGTON PREVIEW: Everything to Know About Inaugural Race] "[Those wins] mean nothing," Palou said in his post-qualifying news conference. "It means more that the team does a good job not having data and being able to put the car. "I felt good at both Detroit, Thermal, and here as well. I feel we have a good car. I feel very confident with the track." Both Palou and Newgarden downplayed the fact that Palou — a four-time series champion who has won the title the last three years — isn’t leading the standings two races into the season. "It's crazy, crazy numbers, crazy statistics," Palou said in a news conference Friday about that streak. 2. Ericsson Long Road To Pole This was the first pole for Marcus Ericsson in 117 career starts. [POWER RANKINGS: Who is on top at Arlington?] The former Formula 1 driver and former Chip Ganassi Racing driver finished 20th in the standings last year at Andretti Global, and doesn’t hide from the fact that this will be his last year there if he doesn’t perform. "I was very pissed off really after last year and the way I performed, especially the second half," Ericsson said in his post-qualifying news conference. "
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- No Data Available - BROWSE BY SPORTS & TEAMS PLAYERS SHOWS PERSONALITIES TOPICS Built on NTT INDYCAR SERIES NTT INDYCAR SERIES 4 Takeaways From INDYCAR Arlington Qualifying: From Alex Palou to the Wind Updated Mar. 14, 2026 6:59 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link Bob Pockrass FOX Motorsports Insider Arlington, Texas — Alex Palou hadn't left a race weekend not as the INDYCAR points leader for 21 months. So when he exited Phoenix Raceway fifth in the standings, some would think he might have lost a little swagger. Palou knows his incredible run is over, but he qualified on the front row for the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington, where Marcus Ericsson will lead an INDYCAR field to green for the first time in his career at a new temporary 2.73-mile street circuit that winds by both the Cowboys and Rangers stadiums ( Sunday, 11:30 a.m. ET ) Here are my takeaways: 1. Palou Ready To Pounce Palou won the last two points races on new road/street courses as he captured the first win at the new Detroit course and also won last year at Thermal. Can he make it three in a row and cut into his 19-point deficit on leader Josef Newgarden . Alex Palou is trying to continue his run of success at new INDYCAR tracks. [ARLINGTON PREVIEW: Everything to Know About Inaugural Race ] "[Those wins] mean nothing," Palou said in his post-qualifying news conference. "It means more that the team does a good job not having data and being able to put the car. "I felt good at both Detroit, Thermal, and here as well. I feel we have a good car. I feel very confident with the track." Both Palou and Newgarden downplayed the fact that Palou — a four-time series champion who has won the title the last three years — isn’t leading the standings two races into the season. "It's crazy, crazy numbers, crazy statistics," Palou said in a news conference Friday about that streak. 2. Ericsson Long Road To Pole This was the first pole for Marcus Ericsson in 117 career starts. Marcus Ericsson earned the first pol...
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