Alex Palou’s greatness is in a league of its own

The Spaniard’s legacy has already reached the heights of legends after only five seasons — having captured three IndyCar Series Championships in that time.

Alex Palou.

For four of the last five seasons, that name has struck fear into the hearts of other competitors in the IndyCar Series.

And not necessarily because the Spaniard is ruthless to go up against, but simply so unflappable he could easily be

mistaken for a cyborg.

The only time Palou wasn’t among the frontrunners on the regular was during his rookie campaign with Dale Coyne

Racing in 2020. It only took until the third race, though, for rivals to be put on notice after he earned a podium at

Road America. Later that year during Indianapolis 500 qualifying, he drew the attention of team owner Chip

Ganassi, along with his organization’s managing director Mike Hull, when he peddled Coyne’s Honda-powered

machine to a seventh-place start despite suffering a broken weight jacker after the first lap — which was the fastest

lap among the Fast Nine battling for pole that day.

When Felix Rosenqvist left Chip Ganassi Racing and signed with Arrow McLaren at the end of 2020, Palou became

the candidate selected as his replacement. That decision came with an immediate return on investment after winning

in his CGR debut at Barber Motorsports Park, and doing so by fending off two legends of the sport in Team Penske’s

Will Power and Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon. Palou was nearly untouchable the rest of the way, concluding 2021

with three wins and eight podiums in 16 rounds en route to his maiden IndyCar title.

into the present day. In the midst of unsuccessfully defending the championship (ending the year with one win, six

podiums and finishing fifth in the overall standings), he was thrust into what remains a bizarre and confusing

situation when, on July 27, CGR announced a contract extension with Palou, only for him to rebuke the claim via

social media hours later while also confirming his departure in favor of McLaren Racing at season’s end. McLaren

then announced his arrival moments later, with no confirmation if he would be driving for its IndyCar branch —

Arrow McLaren — or be put on the fast track to Formula 1. The scenario led to CGR filing a civil lawsuit against its

driver, who continued to drive for the team. An agreement between all parties was reached by the middle of

September, which allowed Palou to remain with Ganassi for 2023 while also being set in a reserve role with

McLaren’s F1 outfit and testing its MCL35 before a full-time switch to the organization in 2024.

However, the deal fell apart in August of 2023 after Palou decided to back out of his contract with McLaren and sign

a three-year extension to stay with Ganassi. The fallout from it led to McLaren Racing suing Palou for roughly $23

million — a number that has since escalated to $30 million — to recoup costs that included testing, finding a

replacement and even an advanced salary of $400,000, among other notables. Palou’s reasoning for the breach of

contract came down to feeling only a reserve role would be available to him in F1, especially with McLaren’s F1

lineup set with Lando Norris signed through 2025 and Oscar Piastri the end of 2026. In turn, the preference was to

remain in IndyCar.

Through managing the mental and emotional toll of the contract and lawsuit spectacle, Palou went out to record one

of the most dominant seasons in the history of North America’s premier open-wheel championship. He captured five

wins, 10 podiums and 17 top eight finishes in 17 rounds to lock up the 2023 title in the penultimate round in Portland

— a feat not accomplished since Sébastien Bourdais in 2007.