Alex Palou wasn't just racing for a fourth NTT IndyCar SERIES championship in 2025; he was chasing the ghosts of legends. A.J. Foyt and Al Unser share the all-time record with 10 race wins in a single season, and Palou's fierce pursuit of that benchmark defined the year after he rocketed to an enormous early lead.
His victory in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge marked his fifth win in the opening six races, followed quickly by his sixth at Road America during the ninth round. Only a late-race bobble at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course let Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon sneak past to steal a win that nearly went Palou's way. He bounced back immediately by claiming his seventh victory from pole at Iowa Speedway, then took his eighth the exact same way at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Suddenly, matching the historic 10-win record required just two victories from the final three rounds.
While he ultimately fell short of that single-season win record, his closing run was still magnificent with finishes of third, second, and second. More importantly, another Astor Challenge Cup was already secured with two races remaining, a feat not accomplished since Cristiano da Matta in 2002. Palou ended the season 196 points clear of second-place Pato O'Ward of Arrow McLaren, delivering the most dominant championship charge the series has witnessed since the four-peat era of Sebastien Bourdais.
That fourth title places Palou alongside Mario Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais, and Dario Franchitti for third-most in series history, trailing only Foyt with seven and Dixon with six. Franchitti was notably the last driver to win both the "500" and the title in the same year back in 2010, and the last to string together three consecutive championships, until Palou matched both incredible achievements this season. The championship also marked the 17th title for Chip Ganassi Racing since 1996, pulling them level with Team Penske.
“I say all the time, we’re spoiled,” team owner Chip Ganassi said. “I’m spoiled with Palou and (Dixon) and Franchitti. It spoils me.”
The numbers behind the campaign are staggering. Palou finished with eight wins, tying for the third-most in a single season and pushing his career win total to 19. He started inside the top six in 15 of the 17 races, boasted an average grid position of 3.3, secured eight front-row starts, and claimed six NTT P1 Awards—matching the exact total from his previous five seasons combined.
“Every single weekend it was getting better and better,” Palou said. “We’ve won so many races. We won the ‘500.’ The feeling you get after winning that race, (it’s) an explosion of amazing feelings. People keep reminding you about that every single day when you wake up, which makes it feel even more special.”
