Àlex Palou takes fourth straight pole in St. Louis

Àlex Palou, the four-time IndyCar champion, has claimed pole position at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in St. Louis, marking his fourth consecutive top qualifying spot this season.

Driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, Palou set a blistering pace at the World Wide Technology Raceway's short oval, completing two laps with an average speed of 174.353 miles per hour. He outqualified American drivers David Malukas and Kyle Kirkwood, who will start second and third, respectively.

"My car was on rails today. It has been incredible. This is the circuit where I have suffered the most so far, I hope we can change that tomorrow. I really didn't expect to get pole here today," said Palou, reflecting on his performance. Despite his success in qualifying, Palou has not yet secured a victory at the St. Louis track.

Palou currently leads the IndyCar championship standings with 327 points after eight races. He has won four of those events. His closest competitors, Kirkwood and Malukas, are trailing with 265 and 248 points, respectively.

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My car was on rails today. It has been incredible. This is the circuit where I have suffered the most so far, I hope we can change that tomorrow. I really didn't expect to get pole here today.