Alex Palou officially clinched the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series championship during a unique doubleheader weekend at the Milwaukee Mile. The 29-year-old Spaniard secured his fifth career title and fourth in a row for Chip Ganassi Racing, solidifying his status as one of the sport's all-time greats.
Palou's path to the championship was shaped by an unusual schedule due to weather. Rain postponed the conclusion of the first race, originally set to run on Saturday, to Sunday morning. The track remained too wet for racing to commence immediately on Sunday, leading to a revised schedule where the second race, designated as Race 2, would run first at noon local time, followed by the resumption of Race 1 in the late afternoon.
Palou started on pole for the first race of Sunday, sometimes referred to as "Race 1.5," and finished fifth, with Pato O'Ward of Arrow McLaren taking the win. Despite this result, Palou's points lead was sufficient. He needed to maintain a lead of more than 54 points over his nearest competitor by the checkered flag of Race 1 to secure the championship with one race remaining on the schedule.
Opting for a conservative approach in the remainder of Race 1, Palou focused on keeping his No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda clean and intact. He finished tenth in that race, while O'Ward won again, marking a rare feat of two victories in a single day. This performance by Palou was enough to extend his points advantage and officially claim the title.
With this championship, Palou now ranks third on the all-time IndyCar career championships list, trailing only A.J. Foyt with seven titles and his teammate Scott Dixon with six. Palou's run of form over the last six seasons has been remarkable, cementing his place among the sport's legends.
While the championship is secured, Palou is expected to compete fiercely in the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 6. This track is known as one of Palou's strongest venues.
In related events, IndyCar fans in Washington, D.C., were seen cheering for President Donald Trump as his motorcade passed through the streets ahead of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, an event that drew massive television ratings. Palou had previously described a visit to the White House and Oval Office with Trump as an "incredible experience."