Chasing the untouchable: Can anyone catch Alex Palou?

It is the question haunting the paddock: who can actually challenge Alex Palou for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES title? Right now, David Malukas, Kyle Kirkwood, and Christian Lundgaard find themselves within a 17-point window of each other fighting for second place, yet the consensus remains fractured. While David Malukas has been a standout performer since the Sonsio Grand Prix in early May—even outscoring the leader by three points over that five-race span—some remain skeptical that he or his rivals can close the gap to the reigning champion.

The math is brutal for the challengers. With eight races left on the calendar, including three ovals, three road courses, and two new street circuits in Markham and Washington D.C., the path to the Astor Challenge Cup requires more than just consistency. Christian Lundgaard, who holds two victories this season, is seen by some as the primary threat on road courses, whereas Kyle Kirkwood carries the mantle as the only one of the trio with an oval victory. David Malukas, still hunting for that elusive first career win for Team Penske, has shown remarkable form, but the reality remains that Palou continues to set the pace.

Ultimately, the skepticism is loud. Despite the statistical promise of a battle, the sheer dominance shown by Palou makes the idea of a genuine upset feel unlikely to many. Whether it is Lundgaard’s road-course prowess or the oval strength of Malukas, they would need a string of multiple victories to catch the leader. At this stage, it seems the engraver might already be preparing to put Palou’s name on the trophy once again.