Palou Eyeing Fourth IndyCar Title And History If He Pulls It Off
Source: James Black/Penske Entertainment / other
SPEEDWAY, Ind. — The last IndyCar driver to win three championships in a row was Dario Franchetti between 2009 and 2011.
Alex Palou is hoping to accomplish the same feat as he enters his sixth season in the NTT IndyCar Series. In a career that has been defined, thus far, by as much drama as it has success, Palou has managed to keep his focus through it all since coming into the series in 2020.
“It’s tough because … you cannot slow down at any point,” Palou said. “But at the same time, I think it’s easier in a way. It’s easier because I know what it feels like and I just want to do it again, so I work a little bit harder than I did last year.
Palou’s career has also been marred by legal issues between him, his team, Chip Ganassi Racing, and McLaren Racing dating back to his reneging of a deal to join McLaren before the 2023 season. That situation is still being litigated in courts in the United Kingdom.
Even with that, Palou is on the verge of accomplishing something that has not been done in North American open-wheel racing since the 1960s. AJ Foyt won four championships in a span of five years between 1960 and 1964.
Palou could be the next while also joining the likes of Franchetti, Ted Horn, and Sebastien Bourdais in winning three titles in a row. Bourdais is the only driver ever to win four in a row in the waning days of the Champ Car World Series in the early 2000s.
Palou said winning a fourth career title is not as simple as ‘same old, same old’, so to speak.
“100 percent you need to change, otherwise you’ll fall very quick here in IndyCar,” Palou said. “I would say every sport, if you don’t change just because it’s been successful, they’ll catch up really, really quick. The competition will be tough. Obviously, I’m not going to go crazy and change all my stuff. But yeah, I’m trying to change some stuff, both physically, mentally, and the way I drive.”
Some contenders to unseat him atop the throne of North American open-wheel racing include Josef Newgarden of Team Penske, who without his early season penalty that cost him a win a year might have very well been breathing down Palou’s neck for the championship a year ago.
Pato O’Ward is likely the hungriest for a title out of all the drivers in the field. The Mexican driver has won seven races in his career and finished in the top five of the championship four times in his still-young career.
Colton Herta will also likely be in the mix having finished as the runner-up in the championship standings last year to Palou.
The reigning champion said this off-season has been particularly good for him having spent most of his time back in his native Spain. Palou is also a new father of a little girl.
“I’ve been resting. I’ve been on vacation. I’ve been following my daughter around the house because she never stops moving,” he said. “Honestly, spending so much family time, and having good food in Spain that I normally cannot have here during the year.”
But don’t be fooled by his having his fill of the cuisine from his home country. Rest assured, Palou still has a fierce appetite… an appetite for another championship.
“I’m extra motivated, and I’m super hungry,” he said.
