Alex Palou is scheduled to start 10th in today’s Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway, marking his 100th career start in the IndyCar Series. This milestone highlights the Spaniard’s impressive tenure in North America’s top open-wheel racing championship since his debut in 2020.
Impressive Career Achievements through First 99 Starts
Since beginning his IndyCar career, Palou has accumulated 20 wins, including a victory at the prestigious 2025 Indianapolis 500. He has stood on the podium 45 times, finished in the top five on 58 occasions, and recorded 74 top-10 finishes. His performance also includes 12 pole positions and leading 1,788 laps, capped by winning four championships, with the last three titles earned consecutively.
Strong Performance After Moving to Chip Ganassi Racing
Palou’s rookie season with Dale Coyne Racing produced a single podium and a couple of additional top-10 finishes. However, after joining Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) in 2021, his career trajectory accelerated. Over 85 starts with CGR, he boasts a 23.5 percent win rate and an 83.5 percent top-10 rate, with 71 top-10 results. Notably, Palou has achieved victories at 11 distinct race tracks.
Joining Legendary Company in IndyCar History
The 28-year-old Palou has established himself alongside some of IndyCar’s all-time greats. His 20 wins in 99 starts match the tally of four-time Indy 500 winner Rick Mears. Furthermore, securing four titles before his 100th start places Palou alongside racing icons A. J. Foyt and Sebastien Bourdais, who each dominated their era with four consecutive championships.
Matching Records at St. Petersburg and Beyond
Palou’s win at last weekend’s Grand Prix of St. Petersburg made him the first driver to win the season-opener in consecutive years since Sebastien Bourdais accomplished the feat in 2017 and 2018. His 12.4948-second winning margin also set a new race record on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit.
Ranking Among the Top Drivers for Early Career Wins
Palou is one of only nine drivers to claim at least 20 victories within their first 100 IndyCar starts. Bourdais leads this exclusive group with 31 wins, followed by Foyt with 29, and Mario Andretti with 27. Ralph DePalma ranks fourth with 26, while Tommy Milton and Earl Cooper share fifth with 21 each. Palou is tied for seventh alongside Mears and Tony Bettenhausen with 20 wins.
Youngest Among a Distinguished Group of Winners
Uniquely, Palou is the youngest driver to reach this milestone, with Mario Andretti being the only other driver under 30 years old (29) to do so. This highlights Palou’s rapid rise and potential for continued success within IndyCar.
