Alex Palou is a three-time IndyCar Series champion, with the last two clinched in stunning back-to-back success. Yet, even as a reigning champ, he feels his resume is unfinished without a victory in the Indianapolis 500.
“You cannot be an amazing IndyCar driver without winning the Indy 500, for sure," Palou told Motorsport.com. "I would say winning it multiple times, it’s really tough just because it doesn’t depend only on you. But winning it one time with the team I have run has to be done. I don’t need to do it next year or the following one; I have a lot of years to do it.”
While the Spaniard has yet to win a race on an oval, he finished runner-up in the 2021 edition of the Indy 500 after leading the second-most laps (35). He also captured the pole for the 2023 event. In his five career Indy 500 starts, he has led in four of them for a total of 119 laps.
Despite his strong form in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” Palou takes nothing for granted after witnessing how tough it has been for Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon over the years. A six-time series champion, Dixon’s stout record at the Indy 500 includes ultimate glory in 2008 but it stands as his only victory in 22 starts, which also includes three runner-up finishes, five poles and 677 laps led (most all-time).
“Dixon, it’s wild that he only has one, but that’s how it goes,” Palou said. “And he’s the best IndyCar driver we’ve had in, I would say, almost ever. Yeah, hopefully, I can win it someday. But, yes, I don’t think the job is complete until we win an Indy 500, which would mean that I won on an oval, as well.”
Further regarding his own legacy and what has been achieved in only five seasons in the sport, the 27-year-old Palou doesn’t think about how much higher the ceiling can go.
“I think it’s really tough to win one championship,” Palou said. “It’s tougher to win two. And it’s tougher, tougher to win three. I think it just becomes more difficult every time, even if it seems that we’re halfway to six, we are a long, long way.”
But that is already halfway to Dixon.
“Yeah, but it’s 100% of what I’ve done,” Palou said. “It’s a lot, so I don’t know where is the limit. I’m really pretty sure that with this team and with the work that they put in and what I want to put in, we can keep on winning and fighting for championships. Yes, I want to win eight, but I’m focused on next year. I don’t try and win eight and that’s my goal.
And staying in to the present moment has Palou not only locked in on becoming the first driver from his home country to win the Indy 500, but also capturing three consecutive championships - a mark that would move him alongside Dario Franchitti’s magical run from 2009-11.
“I’ll try and win the Indy 500 next year and the championship and tie with Dario and be like, ‘Hey, I’ve done it as well,’” Palou said. “So, that’s the next goal. I’m not thinking about anything else than that just to be able to make fun of Dario; that’s the goal.”
