Alex Palou is a three-time IndyCar Sequence champion, with the final two clinched in gorgeous back-to-back success. But, at the same time as a reigning champ, he feels his resume is unfinished with no victory within the Indianapolis 500.
“You can’t be an incredible IndyCar driver with out profitable the Indy 500, for certain,” Palou informed Motorsport.com. “I’d say profitable it a number of occasions, it’s actually robust simply because it doesn’t rely solely on you. However profitable it one time with the group I’ve run needs to be performed. I don’t must do it subsequent 12 months or the next one; I’ve numerous 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 robust kind in “The Best Spectacle in Racing,” Palou takes nothing without any consideration after witnessing how robust it has been for Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon through the years. A six-time collection champion, Dixon’s stout file on the Indy 500 consists of final glory in 2008 nevertheless it stands as his solely victory in 22 begins, which additionally consists of 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 Photographs
“Dixon, it’s wild that he solely has one, however that’s the way it goes,” Palou stated. “And he’s one of the best IndyCar driver we’ve had in, I’d say, nearly ever. Yeah, hopefully, I can win it sometime. However, sure, I don’t assume the job is full till we win an Indy 500, which might imply that I received 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 greater the ceiling can go.
“I believe it’s actually robust to win one championship,” Palou stated. “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 plainly we’re midway to 6, we’re a protracted, good distance.”
However that’s already midway to Dixon.
“Yeah, nevertheless it’s 100% of what I’ve performed,” Palou stated. “It’s lots, so I don’t know the place is the restrict. I’m actually fairly certain that with this group and with the work that they put in and what I need to put in, we are able to carry on profitable and combating for championships. Sure, I need to win eight, however I’m targeted on subsequent 12 months. I don’t try to win eight and that’s my objective.
And staying in to the current second has Palou not solely locked in on turning into the primary driver from his dwelling nation to win the Indy 500, but additionally capturing three consecutive championships – a mark that might transfer him alongside Dario Franchitti’s magical run from 2009-11.
“I’ll try to win the Indy 500 subsequent 12 months and the championship and tie with Dario and be like, ‘Hey, I’ve performed it as effectively,’” Palou stated. “So, that’s the following objective. I’m not interested by the rest than that simply to have the ability to make enjoyable of Dario; that’s the objective.”
