Alex Palou, the 2025 IndyCar championship leader, has unveiled his distinct OpenAI-themed livery for the upcoming Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. Competing with Chip Ganassi Racing, Palou’s all-black livery has sparked a wide range of opinions among fans worldwide, with some praising its sleekness and others criticizing it for lacking personality.
At the point of this season, nine rounds into the IndyCar championship, Palou sits firmly atop the standings with 386 points. His campaign has been impressive, boasting six Grand Prix wins, two pole positions, and seven top-five finishes, putting him in strong contention for another title. However, while the focus remains on his performance, the livery design has become an unexpected topic of debate among the IndyCar community.
Contrasting Fan Views on the Black OpenAI Livery
The minimalist dark look of Palou’s #10 car for Mid-Ohio has divided opinion sharply. Several fans took to social media platform X to express disappointment, describing the paint scheme as uninspiring. One user bluntly stated, “Soul-less and boring, very fitting.” Another questioned the origin of the design with skepticism, writing, “Did ChatGPT design this livery?” and others dismissing the style as resembling, “a test car.”
Despite these criticisms, there is a contingent appreciative of the understated aesthetic. Fans praised the vehicle for its modern feel and elegant simplicity. One enthusiast commented, “Now this is cool,” while another added, “Ooooo this is sleek.” A further supporter expressed their enthusiasm, simply stating, “I love it.”
It is worth noting that Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske will also compete with a primarily black car at Mid-Ohio, though his vehicle features red and white accents, distinguishing it from Palou’s solid black design.
Palou’s Recent Success at Road America Underlines His Championship Lead
While debates continue over his livery’s design, Palou remains focused on the track, exemplified by his recent triumph in the ninth round of the 2025 IndyCar season, the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America. Starting from second position behind Louis Foster of RLL, Palou navigated a challenging 55-lap race to secure the win.
Following the race, Palou shared his thoughts, saying,
“It was a crazy race. There were moments I thought we were losing a ton of positions. It was a tough race for everybody. Kudos to the team for the amazing strategy and Honda for giving us the fuel mileage we needed at the end to make it.”
With eight races left in the season, Palou’s lead looks promising, yet the pressure remains intense. Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, who holds second place in the standings with 293 points, is actively pursuing the championship leader and aims to shrink the gap. The current season has seen only Palou and Kirkwood win events, with Palou claiming six victories and Kirkwood three.
The Implications of Palou’s Position for the Rest of the Season
As the 2025 IndyCar championship progresses, Alex Palou appears poised to capture his fourth title, maintaining consistent performance and capitalizing on strong team support. However, the season still carries uncertainty; any decline in Palou’s form could tighten the points battle considerably.
The contrast in fan responses to Palou’s Mid-Ohio livery highlights how appearance can influence public perception, even amid sporting success. Regardless of opinions on the car’s look, the focus will return to Palou’s driving as the remaining races unfold and the championship nears its conclusion.
