Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou delivered his verdict on rookie Louis Foster’s breakthrough moment after Foster claimed his maiden pole position at the Road America event in the 2025 IndyCar season. Palou, who qualified second with a lap time of 1:44.6300, will start the race alongside Foster, who secured the pole position in a surprising performance for a rookie at this challenging road course.

Palou praised Foster’s achievement, emphasizing the significance of the first pole position and the impressive manner in which Foster secured it. He expressed confidence that this pole would help Foster achieve a great result in the race and boost his performance throughout the season.

Foster’s pole position was notable as he became the first rookie since Romain Grosjean in 2021 to take pole at a road course in IndyCar. Foster himself admitted he had minimal expectations going into qualifying and did not anticipate making it into the Fast 6 segment. He revealed that he advised his team not to use the alternate tires in the Fast 12 session because he doubted they would advance further, but he was proven wrong by his eventual pole-winning performance.

The qualifying session was fiercely contested among 27 drivers at the halfway mark of the 2025 IndyCar season. Foster’s pole was especially remarkable because he achieved it on a scrub set of soft tires, while other top contenders like Alex Palou and Kyle Kirkwood used fresh tires. Palou acknowledged that Foster’s performance on used tires was unexpected and impressive.

Foster narrowly scraped through the first qualifying segment by just 0.056 seconds and felt he had made a mistake in the Fast 12 session but still managed to advance and ultimately beat Palou and Kirkwood—who are the only race winners so far this season—to claim pole. This pole position marked a significant breakthrough for Foster, who had faced numerous challenges and bad luck earlier in the season.

Palou, a three-time IndyCar Series champion, has had a strong season with consistent podium finishes and road course victories. At Road America, he finished fourth in his previous outing and aims to continue his success on road courses this season.

In summary, Louis Foster’s shock pole at Road America represents a major milestone in his rookie IndyCar season, earning high praise from established champion Alex Palou and signaling Foster’s potential for a strong career ahead. Palou’s support highlights the significance of Foster’s achievement in the competitive field of the 2025 IndyCar season.