Alex Palou secured the 2025 IndyCar championship at the season finale held at Nashville Superspeedway, where he received the Astor Cup as the top driver. Following this victory, DHL Express, Palou’s primary sponsor, revealed plans to promote an IndyCar race in Mexico, highlighting growing global interest in the series.
After ending its longstanding partnership with Andretti Global in 2023, DHL, a $64 billion company, shifted its sponsorship to Chip Ganassi Racing’s #10 Honda driven by Palou starting in 2024. This partnership continued to gain momentum in 2025 as Palou’s DHL-sponsored car dominated races, elevating both the driver’s and brand’s profiles worldwide.
DHL CEO Mike Parra discusses expanded global audience and Mexico race plans
With FOX becoming the exclusive broadcaster of IndyCar in 2025, the series expanded its reach, attracting a much larger audience. DHL CEO Mike Parra noted the increased visibility of Palou and the DHL brand, emphasizing the importance of this global exposure.
Parra highlighted the significance of the worldwide viewership, especially the growing attention Palou receives in his native Spain. He confirmed ongoing efforts to bring IndyCar to Mexico, stating,
“It’s the first time that we’ve now got a global audience that’s tuning in. Alex in Spain is growing, getting a lot of media attention there as well. I look forward to something happening next year, which I’ve been pitching to Mark Miles and the team for a long time, and that is that we’re going to Mexico. That is absolutely exciting for someone like myself.” —Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express
Parra also expressed enthusiasm about competing against Mexican driver Pato O’Ward in a future race on home turf, saying,
“We have a big group of people there in that marketplace. I look forward to seeing a sea of yellow in Mexico. I’m sure we’re going to be competing with Pato there from that perspective. It’s been a great year for us.” —Mike Parra, CEO of DHL Express
Progress toward securing a Mexican IndyCar event for the 2026 season
Penske Entertainment has been engaged in talks with officials organizing the Mexico Grand Prix for over a year, making significant strides toward establishing an IndyCar race in the country. The discussions aim to confirm the race’s addition to the 2026 IndyCar calendar, aligning with DHL’s and the league’s international growth ambitions.
Alex Palou recalls overcoming tire failure in dramatic Nashville finale
During the decisive race at Nashville Superspeedway, Palou started fourth and quickly moved up to second place behind Pato O’Ward. Roughly 50 laps in, he faced a tire failure but managed to maintain control and avoid crashing. Palou described the incident,
“I was lucky enough that it started happening at the entry of the corner, so I was able to feel it, slow down a little bit. Yeah, I was very lucky that it didn’t blow off in the middle of the corner. It waited until the exit. I thought that I was going to end up in the wall.” —Alex Palou, IndyCar driver
Despite the setback, Palou minimized his losing positions thanks to swift pit work and strong lap times before competitors began pitting, as he added,
“Obviously I thought we were going to lose a lot of places. But I think we were lucky enough that we were able to get a really fast pit stop, even though that the tire was flat, get really good out-laps and fast laps at the beginning before people started pitting.” —Alex Palou, IndyCar driver
Implications for IndyCar and DHL’s international growth strategy
Alex Palou’s championship and the prominent DHL sponsorship represent key milestones as IndyCar aggressively seeks to expand its footprint beyond the United States. The planned Mexico race promises to deepen engagement with a passionate Latin American fanbase, creating high-profile matchups such as Palou versus Mexico’s Pato O’Ward. This growth is further supported by enhanced media exposure via FOX, which positions IndyCar for sustained international success.
As efforts to finalize the Mexican event continue, the 2026 season could mark a transformative year for the series. Fans and stakeholders alike anticipate that this bold expansion, driven by both the sport’s top talent and major global sponsors, will elevate IndyCar’s status on the world motorsport stage.
