Alex Palou claimed the pole position for the 14th race of the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series at Laguna Seca on Saturday, reinforcing his quest to extend his championship lead. With the pole start, Palou will spearhead the field on race day, putting him in an ideal spot to widen the gap over his closest competitor, Pato O’Ward.

Qualifying Highlights and Rivalry at the Front

Palou expressed his excitement about the performance, noting the car’s remarkable pace throughout the weekend.

“The car has been amazing. Yesterday in Practice 1 and today, I felt like we had a lot of pace. It’s great to be on pole here,”

he told Fox Sports. Demonstrating the tight competition, O’Ward qualified right behind Palou in second place, ready to challenge for the win and close the 99-point deficit in the standings.

“Just happy we had a smooth qualifying (run). He (Palou) is the guy we have to beat,”

O’Ward said.

Other Top Contenders and Practice Session Constraints

Rounding out the Firestone Fast Six were notable drivers Colton Herta, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, and David Malukas, all having shown strong pace heading into the race. Teams faced challenges with limited track time as Saturday’s morning practice was canceled, leaving only Friday’s session for preparations.

Race Details and Broadcast Information

The Java House Grand Prix of Monterey will begin shortly after 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, with live coverage available on Fox and the IndyCar Radio Network. The race promises to be a pivotal moment in the championship battle as Palou strives to solidify his lead and O’Ward aims to close the gap.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Did McLaren sue Alex Palou over $47.5 million contract dispute?

A. McLaren has not won a title in 26 years. Three-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou needs to travel to London after this weekend’s Daytona 24-hour race. He has to attend mediation with McLaren because the team is suing him for at least $47.5 million due to a contract dispute.