Alex Palou, the standout Chip Ganassi driver, has expressed his strongest confidence yet as he prepares to chase his first-ever victory at the Indianapolis 500 this Sunday. The 28-year-old Spaniard, who has already dominated much of the 2025 IndyCar season, is determined to translate his success on road courses to the historic oval event.
Heading into his sixth Indy 500 start, Palou will take the grid from the second row alongside teammate Scott Dixon and Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist, reinforcing his status as a top contender. After an impressive start to the season with four wins out of five races, including the Sonsio GP at the Indianapolis Road Course, Palou holds a commanding lead in the championship standings.
Palou Aims to Capture His First Indy 500 Victory After Multiple Close Calls
Despite his rapid rise in IndyCar, the Indianapolis 500 title has consistently eluded Palou, who has never finished higher than second in his five previous starts. The race has proven particularly difficult for him, and his lack of oval race wins remains a notable gap in an otherwise impressive resume that includes three series championships, 15 career wins, and 36 podium finishes.
Palou acknowledges this challenge but is eager to change the narrative and put an Indy 500 trophy alongside his other achievements.
“I feel more confident than ever before,”
Palou told Fox Sports.
“I got to experience different parts of the 500, like running up front, running in the back, having to overtake, having a fast car, having not such a fast car. I feel more ready than ever, and I think it’s enough to win, so that’s why. And I’m hungry to win it.”
His preparation for the race has been meticulous and filled with anticipation.
“We are ready. You start getting excited thinking about traffic and how to get a fast race car for the Indianapolis 500. I’m excited for the race to come,”
he added.
Experience and Determination: Keys to Palou’s Indy 500 Pursuit
Palou’s journey to this moment includes his closest brush with the Indy 500 crown in 2021, when, in his second IndyCar season and first with Chip Ganassi Racing, he mounted a thrilling challenge against Helio Castroneves on the final lap but fell short by less than half a second. Reflecting on that race, Palou acknowledged,
“My race against Helio in 2021 was amazing. He won it in a car that was a little bit slower than mine. He won it because he was better than me. That’s it. Period.”
He attributed that loss to Castroneves’ superior racecraft and experience rather than outright speed.
“I had the faster car than Helio, but he just had more experience. He was much better than me reading the traffic and knowing when to overtake, when to defend.”
Palou believes that he now has matured in those areas.
“I think I have a lot more experience now. I don’t have as much experience as Helio, but I believe I could have done something different.”
Indy 500 Focus Temporarily Overshadows Championship Battle
While Palou holds a significant 97-point lead in the championship over Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, the importance of the Indy 500 means the usual title fight takes a backseat this weekend. Palou clearly prioritizes the race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway above all else, emphasizing the unique prestige of the event.
“In that race, you don’t think about the championship at all,”
Palou explained.
“A third place is not good enough. A second place is not good enough. It’s only first that counts. You don’t act crazy, but I think everybody goes there to win the Indianapolis 500.”
He remains hopeful that his team’s strategy and car setup will yield the performance needed to finally capture the victory.
“Hopefully, all the moves we make will work.”
The Significance of an Indy 500 Win for Palou’s Career
The importance of securing the Indianapolis 500 win cannot be overstated for Palou. Despite multiple championships and consistent podium results, that missing title represents a key milestone in solidifying his status among IndyCar’s all-time greats. He recognizes the challenge:
“It’s good and bad. It’s not what we want. We want to be introduced as the Indianapolis 500 champion, but it takes time. It’s hard to win. That’s why it is so important and separates some drivers who are really elite and amazing drivers.”
As the weekend approaches, Palou is focused and driven, aiming to erase the qualifier that he is the best driver without an Indy 500 victory.
“We’re pushing and that is all I think about. Hopefully, we can get rid of that introduction this year.”
