LONG BEACH, Calif. — The odds didn’t move much after qualifying. The board still runs through Álex Palou.
Despite Felix Rosenqvist winning pole Saturday, sportsbooks continue to list Palou as a favorite for Sunday’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, with defending winner Kyle Kirkwood close behind on most books.
Kirkwood sits atop DraftKings at +150, with Palou just behind near +175. Pato O’Ward follows as a clear third option, typically in the +550 range, while a second tier — including Rosenqvist, Power, Dixon and Malukas sits further back.
The numbers reflect form more than starting position.
Palou has been the most consistent driver in the series and owns a track record of finishing near the front on street circuits, including a runner-up finish here last year. Kirkwood, meanwhile, won this race in 2025 after leading 46 laps from the pole, but oddsmakers have not elevated him past Palou entering Sunday.
Rosenqvist’s pole adds intrigue, not certainty. Track position matters on the tight Long Beach street circuit, but betting markets remain anchored in season-long performance and proven closing ability.
The result is a clear hierarchy: Palou as the standard, Kirkwood as the immediate threat, and a crowded group chasing from behind.
Pole or not, the numbers say the same thing.
Sunday runs through Palou — until someone proves otherwise.
