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Since joining Chip Ganassi Racing six seasons ago, Spanish driver Àlex Palou has proven himself to be a generational talent who is quickly making his way into the INDYCAR record books.
For this, Palou was granted a multi-year contract extension on his current deal that extends through the 2027 season. The extension was finalized after this week’s two-day Indianapolis 500 test. Ganassi never publicly discloses the terms of the contract.
The award capped a week of celebration for Palou, who visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the reigning Indy 500 winner for testing and saw a larger-than-life banner of himself drinking traditional winner’s milk. It’s the main banner as you enter the speedway – a key location he had seen reserved for rival drivers for the previous six years.
“I took a photo while passing by and sent it to my parents,” Palou said.
Palou has won four INDYCAR championships in five years, including the last three titles in a row. He won eight times last season, including the 500, as he has flourished in INDYCAR since joining Ganassi in 2021.
Before the Long Beach Grand Prix two weeks ago, former Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi was asked if anything had surprised him during the first quarter of the season. His response was immediate: “Yes, Alex has only won two races. And he is not the points leader.”
Palou responded by winning Long Beach, giving him three wins in five races this year and reclaiming first place in the championship standings.
“It’s amazing, really amazing,” said rival driver Will Power, a two-time INDYCAR champion and Indianapolis 500 winner. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for about a week because, once again, he went out and won three races out of five. I mean. [Kyle] Kirkwood’s average is around three points, and he doesn’t lead the league, which is insane.
“So that’s something I’m absolutely wondering, how is he doing this week in and week out? Well, that’s one, he’s qualifying well. Two, he’s running the race and three, the pit stops, you know, top notch, there’s no mistakes in there. And he’s fast. So that’s what it takes when you’re driving out there.”
His 22 career victories in 103 starts rank fifth in INDYCAR’s 121-year history. Sébastien Bourdais won 31 times during this period in the diluted Champ Car era; AJ Foyt won 30, Mario Andretti 27 and Ralph DePalma 26.
Palou’s four titles already equal Andretti and Bourdais, and in the post-World War II period, Palou’s 61 top finishes in his 103 starts are behind Andretti, who had 64.
Dario Franchitti, four-time INDYCAR champion and three-time Indy 500 winner, is now a driver trainer and consultant for Ganassi. He believes there hasn’t been a more dominant driver in the series since Alex Zanardi, who won 12 consecutive races and titles for Ganassi in 1997 and 1998.
“Winning a championship is one thing, but the next ones get harder and harder,” Franchitti said. “Just watching what he’s done, and at this early stage of his career, it’s something very special. And the level of dominance, it’s icing on the cake.
“You feel sorry for the others. I told him several times, ‘I would have hated to race against you.’ He is the complete package. »
At Long Beach last month, rival driver Pato O’Ward admitted his McLaren team had not closed the gap at all on Palou and the No. 10 Ganassi team.
“The guy is capable of winning every weekend. Honestly, it’s impressive to see,” O’Ward said. “The gap is as big as it’s been, and we’re working hard to try to be at the level where he’s capable of winning every race, but we don’t have that.”
Connor Daly believes the dominance is a combination of Palou’s flawless performance and the strength of his racing team.
“Alex is very good, but this team, when called upon, doesn’t make mistakes and that’s what’s so important about this game,” Daly said. “Everything has to be, everyone has to be on the same page, and he is, without a doubt, one of the best drivers in the world right now.”
Associated Press reporting.
