Alex Palou, the talented driver of the No. 10 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, made headlines this Memorial Day weekend by executing a daring move that earned him the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. His Alex Palou Indianapolis 500 winning move not only marked his first victory at the iconic event but also solidified his position as one of the most dominant drivers in the NTT IndyCar Series.
A Rising Star in IndyCar with Stunning Achievements
At just 28 years old, Palou is already recognized as one of IndyCar’s standout competitors, having secured three championship titles—including back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024—and triumphing in five of the first six races this season. Despite this impressive record, the Indy 500 win was a milestone he had not yet reached, nor had he previously won on an oval track, a requirement many view as essential to true IndyCar greatness.
Reflecting on the significance of the victory, Palou shared his feelings shortly after the race,
“Still feels surreal, like I still cannot believe that we just won the Indy 500,”
he said.
“Yeah, the biggest race in the world. And it feels amazing, honestly. It’s a dream come true, and I don’t think I’ll ever be tired of hearing [Indianapolis 500 Champion] as an introduction to an interview.”
Interestingly, Palou did not feel the usual crushing pressure associated with winning such a prestigious race. He explained,
“It’s been more like excitement and pure happiness than anything else. Like, obviously, there’s relief whenever you win a race, because that’s our work. That’s what we want to do. That’s what drives us. And when you get it, it’s, ‘Oh, yeah, I did it.’ But it was not that. It was not that much, like I did not really put too much pressure on my shoulders to win the 500 now. It’s something that I for sure wanted to do throughout my career, but I knew that there’s stuff that you cannot control, that it takes time.”
Executing the Decisive Overtake to Victory
Palou secured his triumph with 14 laps remaining, overcoming a tire and fuel disadvantage compared to his closest rivals. The moment that defined his win came when he noticed race leader Marcus Ericsson, the defending Indy 500 champion from 2022, leaving a gap on the inside at Turn 1. Without hesitation, Palou seized the opening.
“So, as soon as I saw that I could get a big run [on] him, out of (Turn) 4 heading into (Turn 1), I was like, ‘Okay, this is my turn, and hopefully we can make it happen,’”
Palou recounted.
“Hopefully, he gives us enough space to go on the inside. Otherwise, we’ll try and do it from the outside. So, yeah, it was planned. But then during that moment, it’s like, a really quick decision of like, okay, the gap is there. I’ll just dive in.”
The maneuver was successful, and Palou benefited from navigating lap traffic effectively to maintain the lead to the finish line. By winning the Indianapolis 500, he also became the first Spanish driver ever to claim victory at the Yard of Bricks, a historic achievement for both himself and his home country.
“I mean, being an Indy 500 champion, it’s life-changing. It’s amazing, but when you add on top of that, that you’re the first Spanish driver to do it, there’s nobody that’s going to change that,”
Palou said, emphasizing the lasting significance of his accomplishment.
Media’s Role in Expanding Motorsports’ Reach
As Palou’s star continues to rise within the NTT IndyCar Series, he also recognizes the important role that media exposure plays in expanding the sport’s audience. This year, the Indianapolis 500 drew its highest television ratings since 2008, an indication of growing interest in motorsport, further enhanced by the upcoming release of a major Formula 1 movie that looks set to bring new fans to racing.
Asked whether Hollywood star Brad Pitt could convincingly portray a racing driver, Palou responded,
“I don’t know. I’m sure he will. He’s an amazing actor, like, come on, he’s a superstar, and there’s no better person than him to represent in the motorsport world.”
Palou also expressed optimism about the film’s potential impact beyond traditional racing fans:
“I think the good stuff about that, it’s not a documentary. It doesn’t target people that [are into] motorsport. It targets everybody else. People that are still not interested in motorsport, and hopefully they get some interest in it, and some kids as well, like young people that doesn’t know about motorsport, to be like, ‘Hey, this is F1, this is IndyCar.’ Like, it’s gonna allow them to discover this amazing world that we have. But yeah, I’m excited for it. I think it’s going to be great.”
Hopeful About Continued Growth with Fox and Fans
The broadcast partnership with Fox played a major role in the surge of viewership this season, with over 7 million tuning in to watch the race, complemented by a strong turnout of 350,000 spectators at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Palou applauded Fox’s efforts in promoting the series during their first year as broadcasters.
“I think Fox did an amazing job on the commercials that they did for us, like you could see that on not only the ratings, but the people, the amount of people we had that every single race weekend,”
Palou said.
“And yeah, at the ratings that we had on only their first year, they were awesome. So hopefully that pushes them to be, to continue to be happy, and to push to make it even bigger. Because what they’re doing, it’s, it’s truly amazing.”
Despite his on-screen presence in those advertisements, Palou has no intention of leaving racing for acting anytime soon. He confessed,
“Yeah, that’s not my thing, man, like it was tough for me. That’s not my thing. My thing is more, like, to have a helmet and drive than the acting. Even if it looked okay on the commercial, it was actually a tough day for me.”
Palou’s recent achievements, especially his record-breaking start to the current season, demonstrate that his strength lies firmly behind the wheel, where his passion and skill continue to set him apart as a leading figure in IndyCar racing.
