Alex Palou achieved his seventh IndyCar win of the season Sunday at the Farm to Finish 275 in Newton, Iowa, solidifying his status as the leading driver in the series. This victory keeps him firmly in contention for the all-time single-season wins record, as he has now triumphed in more than half of the season’s first 12 races.
Road to Matching Historic Records
Palou’s current pace has drawn comparisons to legends such as A.J. Foyt and Al Unser, who each secured 10 victories in a season—Foyt in 1964 and Unser in 1970. Al Unser Jr. also notched seven wins during the first 12 races in 1994 and concluded that year with eight total triumphs. With Palou’s seventh win, he stands just three victories shy of tying this prestigious milestone.
Race Strategy and Pivotal Moments
Sunday’s triumph was shaped by a strategic pit stop under caution. Palou led 194 of the 275 laps, second only to Josef Newgarden’s 232 laps led in Saturday’s race, which was won by Pato O’Ward. While Newgarden and David Malukas pitted under green late in the race, Palou remained on track. When Colton Herta’s accident on the backstretch brought out the caution flag, Palou took advantage by pitting then, allowing him to maintain his lead and control the final laps.
Palou’s Versatility and Season Standings
Winning across different types of circuits, Palou has now completed the INDYCAR “cycle” by securing victories on street circuits, road courses, superspeedways, and short ovals like Iowa Speedway. Scott Dixon finished second on Sunday, followed by Marcus Armstrong, David Malukas, and Pato O’Ward, while Newgarden slipped to tenth place. Currently, Palou leads the points standings by 129 points ahead of O’Ward and aims for his third consecutive series championship, marking his fourth in five years.
Driver Safety and Team Decisions at Iowa
Nolan Siegel, who qualified fifth for Sunday’s race, was sidelined due to a mild concussion sustained during a crash late in Saturday’s event. The Arrow McLaren race team opted not to run Siegel’s No. 6 Chevrolet on Sunday and confirmed ongoing medical evaluations ahead of next weekend’s race in Toronto. Siegel had finished 24th in the first Iowa race.
Reflections from Victory Lane
Expressing his emotions after the race, Palou said,
I really cannot believe it, honestly.
—Alex Palou
He also described the weekend as “unbelievable” and hailed it as a remarkable year for his team. This victory represents a significant step toward rewriting IndyCar history and elevates Palou’s status as one of the sport’s premier talents.
