Alex Palou is a three-time IndyCar Collection champion, with the final two clinched in beautiful back-to-back success. But, at the same time as a reigning champ, he feels his resume is unfinished with out a victory within the Indianapolis 500.
“You can’t be a tremendous IndyCar driver with out profitable the Indy 500, for certain,” Palou informed Motorsport.com. “I might say profitable it a number of instances, it’s actually powerful simply because it doesn’t rely solely on you. However profitable it one time with the crew I’ve run must be finished. I don’t must do it subsequent yr or the next one; I’ve loads of years to do it.”
Whereas the Spaniard has but to win a race on an oval, he completed runner-up within the 2021 version 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 Biggest Spectacle in Racing,” Palou takes nothing with no consideration after witnessing how powerful it has been for Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon over time. A six-time collection champion, Dixon’s stout document on the Indy 500 contains final glory in 2008 but it surely 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 throughout the Month of Might
Picture by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Pictures
“Dixon, it’s wild that he solely has one, however that’s the way it goes,” Palou mentioned. “And he’s the very best IndyCar driver we’ve had in, I might say, nearly 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 effectively.”
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 believe it’s actually powerful to win one championship,” Palou mentioned. “It’s harder to win two. And it’s harder, harder to win three. I believe it simply turns into harder each time, even when evidently we’re midway to 6, we’re a protracted, great distance.”
However that’s already midway to Dixon.
“Yeah, but it surely’s 100% of what I’ve finished,” Palou mentioned. “It’s loads, so I don’t know the place is the restrict. I’m actually fairly certain that with this crew and with the work that they put in and what I wish to put in, we are able to carry on profitable and combating for championships. Sure, I wish to win eight, however I’m centered 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 house nation to win the Indy 500, but in addition 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 finished it as effectively,’” Palou mentioned. “So, that’s the following purpose. I’m not serious about the rest than that simply to have the ability to make enjoyable of Dario; that’s the purpose.”
