Alex Palou blew his fastest qualifying lap on a wet walk, crashing into the wall on Turn 10 at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy on Saturday.
Charm City Circuit Tests the Edge
The 12‑turn, 2.19‑mile temporary street course in Markham unfolded tough running conditions, turning the qualifying session into a high‑stakes battle.
Record‑Speed Push Meets the Red Flag
With three minutes left in the Round of 12, Palou set a blistering 1:13.8 against the 10‑car field in his Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, before losing the rear into Turn 10 and smacking the wall seconds later. The impact took out the right‑front and left‑rear corners and sent the car into the runoff area.
The red flag that followed erased his two fastest laps, dropping him from a provisional pecking order to 12th in the session.
Palou Blames Own Over‑Push
He admitted to the error, saying he “lost the rear” and was “pushing” as if Group 2 drivers were “really, really fast.” Palou also called the mistake “on me” and an “over‑push.”
Grid Penalty Pushes Palou into 11th
Alexander Rossi will start 11th after a six‑spot penalty for an unapproved engine change on his No. 21 ECR Chevrolet, giving Palou his first starting position outside the top ten since Nashville in 2024.
Fast Car Remains the Island of Hope
Palou notes the speed of his machine as his main asset, emphasizing that maintaining a solid pace will be key to surviving the race and clawing back positions.
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