IndyCar Gradebook: 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500
- Dan Jones
- 1 hour ago
- 13 min read
Felix Rosenqvist confirmed his place in the history books as he won the closest Indianapolis 500 of all-time ahead of David Malukas. Only one driver takes the headlines at Indianapolis, but as always there were stories up and down the field. DIVEBOMB IndyCar Correspondent, Dan Jones, graded all 33 drivers' performances during the 'Month of May'.
NOTE: When referring to qualifying positions, the penalisations of Caio Collet and Jack Harvey have been considered.
Chip Ganassi Racing
No.8 - Kyffin Simpson - B
Although there was no result to show for it, 2026 marked Kyffin Simpson's best career performance at the Indianapolis 500. The Cayman Islander impressed in qualifying as he started in seventh and showed well in the opening stints of the race by being able to stretch his fuel more than most others. As will be a theme, he was one of many not to pit on Lap 131 which saw him cycle down the order on strategy which resulted in an underwhelming 14th place. It was not the result that Simpson deserved though after a very respectable May.
No.9 - Scott Dixon - B
The agonising wait for a second Indianapolis 500 still continues for Scott Dixon who finished a lowly 15th despite having a realistic shot at victory midway through. Dixon was the weakest Ganassi car in qualifying, lining up in 10th but made his usual progress throughout the race, exchanging the lead with Palou until the red came out for conditions. However, Dixon lost a lot of his ground on restarts and fell down the order on strategy during the final stint. It was a good, but unspectacular month for Dixon who's 18 year wait continues.
No.10 - Álex Palou - A+
It says a lot about Álex Palou's standards that a seventh-place finish feels like a worst-case scenario, but that seventh-place does not take away from what was an outstanding May. The team were not expecting a strong qualifying performance, which made it all the more remarkable that Palou was able to place his No.10 on pole. Race day saw Palou's usual standards too, as he cycled in-and-out of the lead for the majority of proceedings. He was one of many to not pit on Lap 131 which saw him out-of-cycle and it would always be an uphill task from there. Palou finished seventh at the chequered flag after being unable to make ground on the final two restarts, but if not for a mis-timed caution, there is a very high chance he would have defended his Indianapolis 500 crown.
Team Penske
No.2 - Josef Newgarden - C+
It is a difficult month to grade for Josef Newgarden and one he will likely reflect on with frustration. After looking so strong in practice, a 23rd place starting spot was a huge disappointment for Newgarden, but the belief he could make his way through the order quickly proved true as he came into the picture for a top five finish. And as soon as his chances continued to increase, his day was done through the unlikeliest of errors as he spun on the Lap 125 restart. It was an impressive drive up to that point, but the nature of the incident cost him dear.
No.3 - Scott McLaughlin - A
After last year's disaster, it was critical for Scott McLaughlin to have a strong Indy 500 campaign and although he did not find himself in Victory Lane, he had a superb month. McLaughlin qualified maybe slightly disappointingly in ninth considering the pace that Penske were believed to have had, but he quickly became in the picture for potential victory, especially past the Lap 100 mark. However, things fell out of his grasp through strategy but he nailed the last two restarts to move from 10th to third. Not the bounce-back story he was dreaming of, but a good one nonetheless.
No.12 - David Malukas - A+
The tears on David Malukas' face post-race told the entire story. After a superb month and a superb race, he had fallen just short of motorsports greatest prize. Malukas was one of the drivers to beat from the get-go in practice and he backed that up with a qualifying run to the front row. He executed his race day perfectly, making moves when he needed to and always looking in contention to victory. When the final caution put him back into victory contention, he did everything he needed to do and was simply unfortunate that the tow he provided Rosenqvist lost him the race. It won't heal the pain of losing, but Malukas had an excellent month and it'll make a '500' victory all the sweeter in the future.
Andretti Global
No.26 - Will Power - C-
It felt like a month that never really got going for Will Power and Andretti Global, with his first Indianapolis 500 campaign with Andretti being an underwhelming one. Although the team looked good in traffic, their qualifying pace was to be desired, with Power lining up 19th. The Australian did not make significant progress during the race either, before a mechanical failure cut his race short on Lap 92 - with Power avoiding a bigger accident by smartly moving to the exit lane prior to spinning. Power was frustrated all month and it was not a May to be remembered.
No.27 - Kyle Kirkwood - C
There had been plenty of talk since the Open Test and in the first week of running that Kyle Kirkwood could be a genuine contender for a first Indianapolis 500 victory. Qualifying pace had always been Andretti's downfall though and that was proven when Kirkwood lined up 25th. There was still a belief he could work his way through the field though and although things were looking more promising midway through, Kirkwood could not make the desired progress. He lost a lot of positions after getting high on a restart and ended up a very disappointing 16th.
No.28 - Marcus Ericsson - B-
It did not prove as disastrous a month for Marcus Ericsson as it did his teammates, but he lost out being another not to pit on Lap 131. Ericsson had started the best of the Andretti's in 17th and had worked his way up comfortably in the top 10 by the halfway mark. Although it never felt like he was a realistic challenger for victory, Ericsson was still in the picture until strategy but an end to his hopes of a strong performance as he came home 13th.
Arrow McLaren
No.5 - Pato O'Ward - A
For the sixth year in a row, a chance at Indianapolis 500 victory fell out of Pato O'Ward's grasp, albeit this time after being in a position that he did remarkably well to get to in the first place. O'Ward had good pace throughout practice and qualified well in sixth and was unfortunate to be involved in Rossi's Monday crash which moved O'Ward to an unfavoured back-up car. Given the circumstances, O'Ward drove well in-and-around the top five on Sunday and put himself in a position for victory on Lap 131 through strategy. However, he was unable to stretch the fuel as much as his competitors before being unable to make progress on the final restarts. A fourth-place finish was respectable nonetheless but victory still eludes him.
No.6 - Nolan Siegel - B-
May proved an unremarkable month for Nolan Siegel, but one that continued to steady the sinking ship after a good road course weekend. Siegel qualified in 20th and although his Sunday was quiet, he finished in a respectable 11th in a trouble-free day amidst a trouble-free month. It still is not enough to secure his future, but it is a trend in the right direction.
No.7 - Christian Lundgaard - C+
It proved a tricky two weeks for Christian Lundgaard who was unable to replicate his heroics on the road course. Lundgaard qualified very close to Siegel in 18th and ran with the teammate for the majority of the race until slipping down the order in the final stints. Lundgaard finished a disappointing 17th once all was said and done.
No.31 - Ryan Hunter-Reay - D
Ryan Hunter-Reay's ambition to overcome the disappointment of coming so close in 2025 fell very flat in 2026 in a tricky month for both him and Arrow McLaren. The team were plagued by technical troubles all month and Hunter-Reay was the slowest McLaren in qualifying in just 22nd. Given his experience, he was expected to move up the order until he clumsily crashed in Turn 2 on Lap 17, putting an end to his day. It remains to be seen whether him and McLaren will wish to re-united again after this troublesome May.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
No.15 - Graham Rahal - D+
There's no secret that Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's (RLL) main Achilles Heel has come on the Indianapolis oval in recent years and there were no signs of their troublesome form improving this May. Graham Rahal has often been the brunt of the teams' troubles and his May proved no easier as he qualified just 28th, slowest of the four-car line-up. His race day was unspectacular too, finishing a lowly 20th and a lap down.
No.45 - Louis Foster - C
Rahal's troubles weren't exclusive as proved by the rest of the team's performance, with Louis Foster another to have a quiet month. Foster qualified the strongest of RLL's full-time drivers, and by some distance, but was unable to make any meaningful impact during the 200 laps. He finished behind Rahal in 21st after not opting to pit on Lap 131 causing him to go a lap down.
No.47 - Mick Schumacher - C+
Although not a spectacular month, Schumacher left his first Indianapolis 500 having completed all 200 laps and with Rookie of the Year honours. May was always expected to be difficult for Schumacher given his machinery, proved by qualifying in 27th. He had a fairly quiet 200 laps, until he caused a caution by tapping the wall in Turn 2 with four laps to go before doing it again on his final tour of the speedway. He'll be pleased to claim Rookie of the Year but there is still plenty to build on.
No.75 - Takuma Sato - B-
After being a standout in 2025, Takuma Sato did not reach the same heights at the Indianapolis 500 in 2026. Sato was frustrated after marginally missing the Fast 12, albeit a significant improvement in comparison to his teammates. Come race day, Sato was under fire quickly after colliding with Ed Carpenter when he moved down a lane into Turn 1. The No.75 crew put Sato on the right strategy, which saw him as high as eighth, before dropping back on the final restart to 10th.
Meyer Shank Racing
No.06 - Hélio Castroneves - C+
Hélio Castroneves did not complete the 'drive for five' although still earned himself a fifth ring, courtesy of being a co-owner of Meyer Shank Racing (MSR). It was an average month for Castroneves, who qualified in 14th and had a fairly quiet race, ending up on the wrong strategy which placed him significantly down the order. When the race was red flagged, Castroneves retired from the race knowing his chances were over to see Rosenqvist win for his team. An amusing ending to an otherwise quiet month.
No.60 - Felix Rosenqvist - A+
Everything has to be perfect to win the Indianapolis 500 and the stars aligned for Rosenqvist who claimed his first '500' victory in the unlikeliest of circumstances. It said a lot about Rosenqvist's runs that a fourth-place starting spot was disappointing and although he didn't seem a major factor initially on race day, a smart strategy call put him in the prime spot for victory, especially after making the decisive move on O'Ward. Although those chances would diminish through two late yellows, Rosenqvist's final lap around the outside of his teammate around all four corners will be one that defines his legacy and will be discussed for decades to come. It was a magical way to win the most magical race and certainly deserving of the top grades.
No.66 - Marcus Armstrong - B+
Marcus Arsmstrong was visibly upset when his chances at a maiden Indianapolis 500 fell through his grasp on the final corner of the final lap in what would have been an unlikely victory story. Armstrong was the closest of the MSR cars in qualifying in 16th but made progress to the fringes of the top 10 during the race before making the money stop on Lap 131. That had him running in third before the late race cautions thrust him into victory contention. There was little he could do to hold off Malukas on Lap 200 though and his victory chances only slimmed when Rosenqvist kept it around the outside. Not the result he wanted, but valuable late-race experience gained.
Ed Carpenter Racing
No.20 - Alexander Rossi - A-
The whirlwind of Alexander Rossi's month makes this one difficult to grade. The 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner was impressive throughout practice and backed it up by qualifying second. And then the practice crash which forced him into a backup tub and leaving him with an injury so significant he could not put weight on his foot. Despite that, Rossi drove valiantly in the opening phases before a pitstop error saw him fall down the order and a fuel line issue saw him retire in pit lane with his car smoking for the second consecutive year. It is a shame we could not see Rossi's full capability because at times throughout the month, he seemed a real contender.
No.21 - Christian Rasmussen - C+
For all the excitement that Christian Rasmussen has shown on ovals and at the Indianapolis 500 in recent seasons, 2026 proved to be a bit of a let down. Rasmussen qualified in 15th, slowest of the Ed Carpenter Racing cars before quietly retiring on Lap 144 with a mechanical failure in the pitlane. There weren't the fireworks of recent seasons, albeit we did not see Rasmussen get the chance to compete late on.
No.33 - Ed Carpenter - C+
The wait continues for Ed Carpenter to win an Indianapolis 500, as he took the unfortunate crown of the most races without an Indianapolis 500 victory. Carpenter qualified respectably in 13th but did not get significant race running after colliding with Sato on Lap 26. Carpenter never felt like a real win contender throughout the two weeks, but you never quite know with Indianapolis.
AJ Foyt Racing
No.4 - Caio Collet - B-
Although the lasting memory will be the crash which led up to one of the all-time great Indianapolis 500 finishes, Caio Collet's rookie month at Indianapolis was one to be pleased with. Collet looked comfortable from the get-go and qualified a very impressive ninth before he was sent to the back through no fault of his own. Collet continued to race confidently on race day until his Lap 191 crash saw his day end slightly early. Although he did not win Rookie of the Year, he has a very valid argument as the most impressive rookie.
No.14 - Santino Ferrucci - B+
Santino Ferrucci continued his remarkable top 10 finishing record at Indianapolis with an eighth-place finish, albeit was once again not in the fight for victory in the closing stages. Ferrucci qualified very well in fifth but progressively dropped the order throughout the race. His chances were marginally lifted by being one of those who pitted on Lap 131 but he was unable to match the likes of Rosenqvist, O'Ward and Armstrong. He fell slightly in the final restart phases to eighth but once again showed well in May.
Juncos Hollinger Racing
No.76 - Rinus VeeKay - B+
It feels bizarre that a sixth-place finish was Rinus VeeKay's best result at Indianapolis, which rounded-off a good all-round month for the Dutchman. VeeKay looked strong until the Fast 12 in qualifying before he completely lost balance in the car and lined up 11th. He stayed in-and-around the top 10 for the majority of proceedings, despite an early strategy gamble, before nailing the final few restarts to bring home a strong sixth-place finish.
No.77 - Sting Ray Robb - D
Sting Ray Robb has shown well at Indianapolis in the past, but this was an all-round disaster month which he'll want to put behind him. Robb qualified dead last prior to penalties in a qualifying run which was frightening. Robb lost confidence in his car from that point and it would always be a struggle bus, which resulted in him finishing two laps down in 23rd.
Dale Coyne Racing
No.18 - Romain Grosjean - B+
If it were not for the final yellows, Grosjean and Dale Coyne Racing would have had a legitimate top five at the Indianapolis 500, a mighty achievement considering their perils of a year ago. A 24th-place qualifying was unremarkable for Grosjean, but the No.18 stand quickly went off-sequence, which Grosjean executed superbly. That placed him within the top five before the late-race yellows dropped him to ninth. It was a disappointing ending for Grosjean and Coyne, but they can be pleased with the progress they have made in the last 12 months.
No.19 - Dennis Hauger - C
Although he did not set headlines as a rookie, it was a calm and composed first Indianapolis 500 for Hauger, in machinery that has traditionally not been strong around the speedway in recent seasons. Hauger qualified poorly in 29th but made sufficient progress through the order on Sunday, to a point where he was even running in third. However a disaster pitstop earned Hauger a drive-through late on which put him a lap down and in 19th place. It had been a strong run up to that point though and a respectable rookie campaign.
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
No.23 - Conor Daly - A-
Conor Daly may be disappointed at a 12th place finish considering this may have been his best chance at an Indianapolis 500 victory, but was one of those who saw strategy fall by the wayside and a promising day come to nothing. Daly looked impressive throughout the month and backed that up by qualifying in eighth. His race pace was strong, proven by the multiple laps Daly led on merit. There was little he could do on strategy though which put a pay to a strong result.
No.24 - Jack Harvey - C-
After showing so much promise throughout practice, it ended up being a rather underwhelming campaign for Jack Harvey. He qualified a rather disappointing 29th which made his penalisation rather insignificant but meant they would have to do something different on race day. The No.24 stand tried but with the lack of track position, little could be done as Harvey disappointingly finished in 22nd and a lap down.
Abel Motorsports
No.51 - Jacob Abel - C-
There was little expectations of Jacob Abel and Abel Motorsports coming into May given their lack of combined IndyCar experience. And although Abel finished the race, May maybe proved underwhelming compared to their expectations. Abel qualified in 30th, less than what he expected that he could do before being the last car to finish, two laps down in 24th. It was a mistake-free month fpr Abel and plenty to build on if he decides to return.
HMD Motorsports
No.11 - Katherine Legge - C
May was always going to be a challenge for Katherine Legge in a last-minute entry for a team who don't usually run IndyCar races. That said, despite a lack of running in the Open Test and a difficult few practice days, Legge qualified a very respectable 26th considering the circumstances she was in. She was the unfortunate victim of Hunter-Reay's accident and in fact did well to not t-bone the McLaren. Her chances at completing 'the double' went awry, but she left May with her best-ever starting spot at the Indianapolis 500, even though she'll be disappointed at how her race panned out.
Photos in this article were taken by DIVEBOMB Photographer, Dominic Loyer. You can find Dominic's work on Instagram (@dominicloyer_photography)
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