IndyCar champ Alex Palou on the importance of appreciating success after his fourth straight series title
Alex Palou Claims Fifth Title in Six Years as Chip Ganassi Racing Driver
Sparta, Ohio – Alex Palou has been crowned champion of the NTT IndyCar Series for the fifth time in six seasons, marking his fourth consecutive title and cementing his place among the most dominant drivers in the series’ history. The announcement came as Palou reflected on his remarkable run during a Zoom interview with OutKick on Monday.
Palou, a 29‑year‑old Spaniard who drives the No. 10 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR), said he continues to be surprised by his achievement. “Every single day, man, like, almost every single day,” he said, “I kind of need to pinch myself and be like, ‘It’s incredible to be in this position.’ I never thought in my entire life that I would have an opportunity like this. I’m just trying to enjoy as much as I can because I know at some point it’s going to end, right? And there’s going to be someone else sitting in this seat, in this chair, and I just want to make sure I take it all in.”
His success is all the more notable in a series known for its tight competition and the challenge of mastering three radically different track styles. Palou credited the culture at CGR and the dedication of the team that has kept the No. 10 Honda on victory lane for many years. “It’s very tough to stay up top. And the thing I like the most is the fire that everybody has at Chip Ganassi Racing,” he observed. “Although they have already won 18 championships, there’s people that are in my car who have been for each one of those 18 championships, and they still work as much as they can to make sure that we can continue to battle and fight for the championship.”
The team is on the cusp of a major roster change. After spending the last 25 seasons with CGR, longtime teammate Scott Dixon will move to Arrow McLaren for the 2027 season. The driver slated to occupy Dixon’s former No. 9 seat has not yet been announced, leaving Palou—likely the most experienced driver on the squad—alongside newcomer Kyffin Simpson in the No. 8 car.
Despite the shifting lineup, Palou expects the team’s collaborative approach to remain unchanged. “I don’t think it’s going to change much, honestly. Like, I think the way we have of working at Chip Ganassi Racing,” he explained, “there’s not a lead driver that kind of manages a bit more than everybody else or has more say.” He recalled his first season with CGR, when he shared the garage with Dixon and NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson. “I thought that I had like zero say on how we were going to operate and how we were going to prepare the cars and stuff, and that was not the case,” he said. “They treated me like another one like them. I had the same (input) as they did, and I think nowadays it works the same way with Kyffin. Whoever is fastest at practice, that’s the leader of the team that day.”
Looking beyond the championship, Palou is already focusing on the next chapter for IndyCar. He played a key role in the series’ flagship events, most notably the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, DC, which drew record television ratings and widespread praise. “It was a big win for IndyCar, and also that showed what we’re able to achieve,” he said, before adding a humorous assessment: “I think that was a 12 out of 10 as an event in general.”
The series is poised for another milestone with the introduction of its first new chassis in over a decade. The Dallara IR‑28, slated to debut in 2028 after a 15‑year run of its predecessor, has already caught Palou’s attention. He tested the car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in August and is scheduled to conduct a shakedown on the iconic oval this Thursday. The early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. “I mean, it was incredible,” he said. “I would love to race it next year instead of in ’28, but honestly, I think everyone at IndyCar and both engine manufacturers, Honda (and Chevrolet), have done incredible work on developing this new car. We had like almost zero issues.”
Palou added that the IR‑28 will have more than a year of development before its in‑race debut, but he believes it is already competitive. “I think, already now, if the car was on track with the other IndyCars, that car would win the race by far,” he noted. “So, yeah, I’m excited to see what we’re able to do and achieve with the car if we work for a full year.”
With a new chassis on the horizon, a shifting driver lineup, and a reputation for excellence, Alex Palou’s championship run underscores Chip Ganassi Racing’s continued dominance while setting the stage for another thrilling chapter in IndyCar competition.