Alex Palou’s Racing Priorities: Chasing Indy 500 Glory or Three Consecutive Titles?

In a recent discussion during NTT INDYCAR SERIES Content Days in early January, Alex Palou was faced with an intriguing question. Should he aim for a third consecutive Astor Cup championship in 2025 or secure his first Indianapolis 500 victory in May?

The Monumental Indianapolis 500

Only 75 drivers have won the Indianapolis 500 over its 108-year history, making victory in the event a significant milestone. Palou could potentially become the 76th winner and thwart Team Penske driver Josef Newgarden’s attempts to secure a historic three consecutive victories.

Pursuing a Triple Crown in INDYCAR

Achieving three straight INDYCAR championships would place Palou in a select group of elite drivers, including Ted Horn (1946-48), Sebastien Bourdais (2004-07), and Dario Franchitti (2009-11). However, the temptation of the Indy 500 made his decision extremely challenging.

Palou’s Candid Response

Palou expressed his disbelief at the enormity of winning the Indy 500, citing the importance of not just knowing about it but experiencing it firsthand. Despite his admiration for a streak of three championships, he ultimately prioritized the Indy 500 for the future.

“I don’t know,” Palou said. “It’s tough. I want to win the Indy 500 so bad. I know what it is, but I don’t think anybody knows exactly how big it is until you win it. At least that’s what I heard from the drivers, and you can see it from outside. But winning three INDYCAR championships in a row is pretty sweet, as well. Probably I would say the three championships in a row and then win the Indy 500 in 2026. If it’s only one, then that’s it, I need to retire, I would obviously do the Indy 500. But I’m not going to retire now. I’ll get the three championships, and then the Indy 500 in the future.”

Palou’s Indy 500 History

Palou has shown resilience in his pursuit of the Indy 500. In 2021, he fell short by just two laps, finishing second behind Helio Castroneves. Bad luck struck in 2022 as he pitted for emergency service after leading, resulting in a 31st-place finish, which he improved to ninth by the end of the race. His 2023 race ended in a collision, pushing him outside the top 25 before he recovered to finish fourth.

The Drive for Three Championships

Palou’s current goal is to secure his third consecutive championship, which would tie him with Mario Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais, and Dario Franchitti at third-most titles in the series. This accomplishment would place him just two titles behind A.J. Foyt and Scott Dixon, sharing a teammate in the latter case.

Starting the New Season

The pursuit of a third title begins March 2 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Palou’s success in the series has been built on his consistency, a factor critical to his 2023 championship victory. Despite not having more than two wins in two seasons, consistency allowed him to pull out top-five finishes even from poor qualifying positions.

“If you’re having a bad day, you’ve got to get the most out of it,” said Scott Dixon. “Alex Palou and the 10 car team last year was a huge testament to that. Rough weekends where they just maybe had an issue in qualifying or something but were still able to pull out a top five or a top four. Those are the days that win you the championship.”

Adapting for Success

Palou understands the importance of evolving his approach to continue competing at the highest level. He acknowledges that success attracts imitation, and his counterparts are adopting his strategy of consistent performance.

“No, 100 percent you need to change it, otherwise you’ll fall very quick here in INDYCAR,” Palou commented. “I would say every sport, if you don’t change just because it’s been successful, they’ll catch up really, really quick. I’m not going to go crazy and change all my stuff. But yeah, I’m trying to change some stuff, both physically, mentally and the way I drive, hopefully. Hopefully I can push myself in areas that I’ve been struggling the past season.”

The Competition Factor

As Palou prepares for the 2025 season, he recognizes that every race starts from square one. He emphasizes that the focus should remain on the current year rather than dwelling on past successes.