Carson Hocevar and Spire Motorsports teammate Daniel Suarez will lead the sphere to the inexperienced flag for the 2026 version of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Hocevar was 0.056s away from Suarez, incomes his third profession pole and his second of the 2026 season. The pole lap was 48.232s, averaging 186.598mph across the historic monitor.
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“It is simply unbelievable,” mentioned Hocevar. “I acquired out of the automobile and so they had been yelling and cheering and every thing. I could not imagine it, and I admire it. I do not know in the event that they had been cheering simply because I beat Denny or the truth that we’re on the entrance row. I am tremendous pumped. Denny stole one from me at Michigan, and that is the house city for Jeff (Dickerson, co-owner at Spire) and all people at Spire. Simply enjoyable to make use of our personal notes these final two years and get these vehicles higher. Simply having fun with it. These guys work actually onerous.”
Watch: Hocevar ecstatic after claiming Brickyard 400 pole
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He added that he will “soak this in lots” as Indianapolis is his favourite monitor on the schedule.
23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick was the very best Toyota driver in third, adopted by the Joe Gibbs Racing teammates of Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin in fourth and fifth, respectively.
The third Spire automobile wasn’t far behind both, with Michael McDowell sixth. Half-timer Corey Heim certified a powerful seventh, whereas Alex Bowman led the way in which for Hendrick Motorsports in eighth. Earlier within the weekend, Bowman introduced plans to retire after the 2027 season.
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A.J. Allmendinger earned a powerful beginning spot for Kaulig Racing in ninth, and Kyle Larson rounded out the highest ten.
The very best-qualifying Ford driver was Ryan Blaney in thirteenth, and there are numerous notables with some work to do on Sunday. Final week’s winner, Joey Logano, begins nineteenth on the grid.
William Byron will begin twenty first, Ross Chastain twenty second, Christopher Bell twenty third, Shane van Gisbergen twenty fifth, Chase Elliott twenty seventh, and defending Brickyard 400 winner Bubba Wallace again in twenty ninth.
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Austin Cindric, who enters this race holding the sixteenth and last spot within the Chase, certified thirty fifth, whereas In-Season Problem finalist Todd Gilliland begins thirty sixth as he faces Blaney for that $1 million prize.
Qualifying recapCarson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
San Diego winner Heim set the early benchmark at 48.529s, with the part-time driver once more impressing in that No. 67 23XI Racing entry. That is his first-ever NASCAR race (in any division) on the historic speedway.
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McDowell had a sketchy lap and practically wiggled up into the wall on the exit of Flip 3, nevertheless it was nonetheless sufficient to dethrone Heim for the highest spot. He didn’t keep there for lengthy, as 23XI fought again with Reddick surging to the highest of the velocity charts.
Later within the session, Hocevar rocketed to the highest, over a tenth away from Reddick. Spire teammate Suarez was simply 0.056s off the pole lap. Blaney had a pole lap going till an enormous carry in Flip 3. Gibbs had an analogous shot, however needed to carry on the exit of Flip 2 and misplaced his benefit down the backstretch.
Chase Elliott touched the wall between Turns 3 and 4, however apart from that, there have been no actual incidents to report from the qualifying session.
Learn Additionally:
Christopher Bell leads Brickyard 400 follow; Bubba Wallace and SVG hit wall
2026 Brickyard 400 full beginning lineup
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