FOX Sports released its fourth and final promotional spot ahead of the 2026 IndyCar season, featuring four-time and reigning champion Alex Palou to showcase his remarkable speed. Palou, who joined Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021, has become a dominant force in the American open-wheel racing scene, making “Alex Palou IndyCar speed” a key focus heading into the new season.
Despite previous challenges in his partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing, including a contract dispute before reconciling, Palou and the team produced one of the most outstanding IndyCar campaigns in 2025. The 28-year-old Spaniard won eight out of 17 races, finishing off the podium only four times, demonstrating consistency and speed throughout the year.
Emotional Victory at the 109th Indy 500 and Unique Promotional Concept
Palou’s most memorable accomplishment last year was his first win at the iconic Indy 500 race, where he started sixth on the grid during his sixth attempt, becoming the first Spanish driver to claim victory at the event. This milestone was celebrated with the traditional bottle of milk atop the winner’s podium, a tradition FOX highlighted in its promotional campaign.
The commercial is set inside a supermarket, showing Palou walking normally while everything else moves in slow motion, contrasting his natural racing speed with everyday life. The voiceover remarks:
“Speed. Alex Palou is obsessed with speed. And when your average Sunday goes, it can be hard downshifting to the speed of Shelly (cashier). So you’ll forgive Alex if the next time he decides to get milk, he doesn’t get it here (supermarket), he gets it here (Indy 500).”
Bill Batin, Senior Vice President of On-Air Promos at FOX Sports, described the inspiration for this approach in a behind-the-scenes video shared by IndyCar on X:
“He’s used to going really fast, he’s used to winning, he’s used to not having to wait for people. So we used that as inspiration, put him in the supermarket where everyone is going super, super slow, and he just wants to buy milk and go home.”
Fan Encounters Reflect Growing Popularity in Indiana
Since joining Chip Ganassi Racing and especially after his Indy 500 triumph, Alex Palou has become a well-recognized figure among IndyCar fans. Having moved to Indiana last year, Palou shared insights into his experiences meeting supporters in the state during an interview with IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles before the 2025 season.
He described some unusual fan encounters in everyday locations like supermarkets and airports, highlighting one particular supermarket moment:
“There’s been couple of (fan interaction) moments at the supermarket or the airport, but I would say the weirdest one is at the supermarket when you’re looking weird, ‘Okay, did my wife tell me to buy this one or that one?’ For me, they are the same. And they’re (fans) like, ‘Hey, it’s Alex Palou,’ and you’re like, ‘Oh yeah, one second.’ So those are the weird ones, but it’s awesome. I’m really lucky to have this opportunity and be in this position, and the fans that we have in IndyCar are amazing.”
These encounters underline the increasing connection Palou has with the racing community and the broader public as his profile grows in the United States.
Outlook for Palou and the 2026 IndyCar Season
Alex Palou enters the 2026 season as the clear favorite and the driver to beat, following an extraordinary year in 2025. Though surpassing his previous achievements may appear unlikely, his track record suggests he might continue elevating his performance. Fans and competitors alike await to see if Palou can maintain or even enhance his dominance in the upcoming races.
This ongoing success not only reinforces FOX Sports’ decision to spotlight him in their promotional efforts but also elevates expectations around “Alex Palou IndyCar speed” as a defining element of the sport moving forward.
Speed. @AlexPalou is OBSESSED with speed. @IndyCar returns March 1 on FOX. pic.twitter.com/vQZppkFaUR
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) February 15, 2026
