Alex Palou is a three-time IndyCar Series champion, with the final two clinched in beautiful back-to-back success. But, even as a reigning champ, he feels his resume is unfinished and not using a victory within the Indianapolis 500.
“You can’t be a tremendous IndyCar driver with out successful the Indy 500, for positive,” Palou advised Motorsport.com. “I might say successful it a number of instances, it’s actually powerful simply because it doesn’t rely solely on you. However successful it one time with the group I’ve run must be executed. I don’t have to do it subsequent yr or the next one; I’ve quite a lot of years to do it.”
Whereas the Spaniard has but to win a race on an oval, he completed runner-up within the 2021 edition of the Indy 500 after main the second-most laps (35). He additionally captured the pole for the 2023 occasion. In his 5 profession Indy 500 begins, he has led in 4 of them for a complete of 119 laps.
Regardless of his sturdy type in “The Best Spectacle in Racing,” Palou takes nothing without any consideration after witnessing how powerful it has been for Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon through the years. A six-time sequence champion, Dixon’s stout document on the Indy 500 contains final glory in 2008 however it stands as his solely victory in 22 begins, which additionally contains three runner-up finishes, 5 poles and 677 laps led (most all-time).
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda crossing the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway through the Month of Could
Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Photographs
“Dixon, it’s wild that he solely has one, however that’s the way it goes,” Palou stated. “And he’s one of the best IndyCar driver we’ve had in, I might say, virtually ever. Yeah, hopefully, I can win it sometime. However, sure, I don’t suppose the job is full till we win an Indy 500, which might imply that I gained on an oval, as nicely.”
Additional concerning his personal legacy and what has been achieved in solely 5 seasons within the sport, the 27-year-old Palou doesn’t take into consideration how a lot increased the ceiling can go.
“I feel it’s actually powerful to win one championship,” Palou stated. “It’s harder to win two. And it’s harder, harder to win three. I feel it simply turns into tougher each time, even when plainly we’re midway to 6, we’re an extended, good distance.”
However that’s already midway to Dixon.
“Yeah, however it’s 100% of what I’ve executed,” Palou stated. “It’s quite a bit, so I don’t know the place is the restrict. I’m actually fairly positive that with this group and with the work that they put in and what I need to put in, we will carry on successful and combating for championships. Sure, I need to win eight, however I’m targeted on subsequent yr. I don’t attempt to win eight and that’s my purpose.
And staying in to the current second has Palou not solely locked in on changing into the primary driver from his dwelling nation to win the Indy 500, but additionally capturing three consecutive championships – a mark that will transfer him alongside Dario Franchitti’s magical run from 2009-11.
“I’ll attempt to win the Indy 500 subsequent yr and the championship and tie with Dario and be like, ‘Hey, I’ve executed it as nicely,’” Palou stated. “So, that’s the subsequent purpose. I’m not fascinated with the rest than that simply to have the ability to make enjoyable of Dario; that’s the purpose.”
