Alex Palou is on the cusp of tying Sébastien Bourdais as the second driver to win a fourth IndyCar championship before turning 29, reinforcing his position as a dominant force in the series. As the NTT IndyCar Series arrives this weekend at Portland International Raceway in Oregon, Palou’s relentless performance has left many competitors, including Christian Lundgaard, visibly exasperated.
Despite strong efforts from drivers like Lundgaard, who races for Arrow McLaren and earned three podiums in the first five events this season, Palou’s consistency outpaces them all, with four victories already secured. Lundgaard voiced the common frustration among Palou’s rivals, acknowledging how even imperfect weekends cannot prevent Palou and his Chip Ganassi Racing team from coming out ahead.
What’s very interesting with the 10 car (Palou’s DHL Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing) is even though they’re having bad weekends, they still come out ahead, right? That’s what’s super-frustrating for all of us. Even if he makes a mistake, the team makes a mistake, they make it up somehow. They’re there every single time. You have to give them kudos for being that competitive every time, and they’ve raised the bar.
—Christian Lundgaard, NTT IndyCar Series driver
Palou’s Reflection on Success and Rival Relations
Alex Palou remains humble and somewhat overwhelmed by his rapid rise and sustained excellence within IndyCar. He shares that he often feels removed from his own success, as though it happened without his full grasp, emphasizing that his dream was always to be a professional race car driver rather than a record-holder. Palou gives much credit to his team for their combined achievements.
I feel like somebody has took me from my place and then just put me here and it’s like, ‘What is going on?’ I don’t know if that makes sense, but I just don’t feel or I cannot really comprehend everything that’s happening—not only this year, but if I look back at ever since I started in IndyCar, my dream was just to be a professional race car driver, and I never thought about records or anything like that. It’s amazing to be there. I cannot really comprehend. I owe everything to my team and everybody that is behind me. It’s not that I’m not conscious about what’s going on. It’s just that I cannot really believe it, and I’m just riding the wave and enjoying every single second of it and having fun,
—Alex Palou, Ganassi Racing driver
Regarding how his peers treat him amid his dominance, Palou noted that although his rivals are not necessarily pleased, they have not alienated him personally. He understands their displeasure but stresses the competitive nature of the sport.
I have not seen that they treat me different or they don’t talk to me or that they are grumpy or anything. Obviously, I know they don’t like it. I know that nobody is happy about it, only us, only the 10 car and CGR. But it is what it is. It’s competition. We are just trying to do the best we can.
—Alex Palou, Ganassi Racing driver
Historical Context of IndyCar Championships and Palou’s Place Among Legends
At the top of IndyCar’s all-time championship list stands A.J. Foyt with seven titles spread from 1960 to 1996, followed by Scott Dixon with six crowns earned between 2003 and 2020. Palou, aiming for his fourth championship, is poised to join Mario Andretti, Sébastien Bourdais, and Dario Franchitti on the roster of drivers with four championships each.
Palou’s anticipated fourth title would put him alongside these legends at a remarkably young age, only Bourdais shares the distinction of earning four championships by age 28. Foyt achieved his fourth at 29, while Dixon reached his fourth title at 35, with the others achieving theirs later in their careers. Andretti claimed his final championship at 44, underscoring how Palou’s ascent is unusually rapid.
This milestone would also bolster Chip Ganassi Racing’s legacy, marking a total of 14 IndyCar championships from Palou, Dixon, and Franchitti combined, and the team’s 18th overall. Ganassi’s historic dominance includes a run from 1996 to 1998 when Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi, and Juan Pablo Montoya carved a remarkable era for the organization.
Racing Culture Through the Eyes of a Veteran Motorsport Journalist
Susan Wade, an Indianapolis native residing in the Seattle area for four decades, brings a wealth of experience to motorsports journalism, particularly in drag racing. With nearly 30 seasons of racetrack reporting and recognition such as the Russ Catlin Award, Wade provides a human-interest lens to racing narratives. Her work has appeared in major publications including the Chicago Tribune, Newark Star-Ledger, Seattle Times, and Autoweek.
Implications of Palou’s Championship Race and Future Outlook
Alex Palou’s sustained dominance in the IndyCar championship chase highlights not only his exceptional talent but also the strength and cohesion of the Ganassi Racing team. His drive to match historical greats influences the competitive landscape, compelling rivals to elevate their performance while wrestling with the frustration of finishing behind him consistently. The upcoming races, including the one at Portland International Raceway, will likely be pivotal as Palou seeks to secure his fourth title, potentially cementing his legacy as one of IndyCar’s youngest multiple-time champions.
