Alex Palou secured his fifth NTT IndyCar Series championship, and fourth consecutive title, cementing a historic streak in the competitive racing series. Palou, 29, expressed a daily gratitude for his position, noting that he often has to remind himself of the significance of his achievements.
"Every single day, man, like, almost every single day," Palou said in an interview. "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?"
His consistent success in a series known for its varied track types and intense competition is a testament to both his driving skill and the environment at Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR). Palou highlighted the persistent drive within the team, even after accumulating numerous championships.
"The thing I like the most is the fire that everybody has at Chip Ganassi Racing," Palou stated. "Although they have already won 18 championships, there's people that are in my car who have been for each one of those 18 championships, and they still work as much as they can to make sure that we can continue to battle and fight for the championship."
Looking ahead, the team will see a significant change with longtime teammate Scott Dixon moving to Arrow McLaren in 2027 after 25 years with CGR. Despite this transition and the eventual announcement of a new driver for the No. 9 car, Palou anticipates his role within the team will remain consistent.
Palou recalled his initial experience with CGR, driving alongside NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson, and how the team fostered an environment of equal input among drivers. "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."
Beyond his personal achievements, Palou is involved in the series' progress, including its recent marquee events like the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. He described the event as a "big win for IndyCar" and a "12 out of 10 as an event in general."
The series is also preparing for the introduction of the Dallara IR-28, the first new chassis in over a decade. Palou tested the new car in August at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and is scheduled for a shakedown on the track's oval. Early impressions are highly positive.
"I mean, it was incredible," Palou said of the IR-28. "I would love to race it next year instead of in '28, but honestly, I think everyone at IndyCar and both engine manufacturers, Honda (and Chevrolet), have done incredible work on developing this new car. We had like almost zero issues."
He added that the car, with over a year of development before its 2028 debut, already shows exceptional performance. "I think, already now, if the car was on track with the other IndyCars, that car would win the race by far," Palou explained, expressing excitement for its full development cycle.
