Alex Palou's greatness is in a category of its own

Alex Palou.

For 4 of the last five seasons, the name has struck fear into the hearts of fellow IndyCar competitors. And not necessarily since the Spaniard is ruthless in combat, but just so unflappable that he could easily be mistaken for a cyborg.

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The only time Palou wasn't consistently near the front was during his rookie campaign with Dale Coyne Racing in 2020. However, it was only within the third race, when his rivals stood on the rostrum at Road America, that focus was drawn to him. Later that 12 months, during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, he caught the eye of team owner Chip Ganassi and his organization's managing director Mike Hull when he guided Coyne's Honda-powered machine to seventh place despite breaking a weightlifter after the primary race. lap – it was the fastest lap among the many Fast Nine fighting for pole position that day.

When Felix Rosenqvist left Chip Ganassi Racing and signed with Arrow McLaren at the tip of 2020, Palou was the candidate chosen to succeed him. The decision saw a right away return on investment after winning his CGR debut at Barber Motorsports Park and doing so after defeating two legends of the game in Team Penske's Will Power and Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon. Palou was nearly untouchable for the remainder of the tour, ending 2021 with three wins and eight podiums in 16 rounds en path to his maiden IndyCar title.

Then got here the 2022 season, with such gripping contract drama surrounding Palou that it continues to this present day. In the midst of an unsuccessful defense of the championship (ending the 12 months with one win, six podiums and a fifth-place finish in the general standings), he found himself in a bizarre and confusing situation when CGR announced a contract extension with Palou on July 27, only to take to social media just a few hours later he rejected this criticism while confirming his departure to McLaren Racing at the tip of the season. McLaren then announced his arrival moments later, with no confirmation on whether he would drive for IndyCar's Arrow McLaren division or be placed 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. By mid-September, all parties had reached an agreement that will allow Palou to stay at Ganassi through 2023, while also serving as a reserve with the McLaren F1 team and testing its MCL35 before moving full-time to the organization in 2024.

However, the deal fell apart in August 2023 after Palou decided to withdraw from his contract with McLaren and sign a three-year extension to stay at Ganassi. As a results of this example, McLaren Racing sued Palou for about $23 million – a figure that increased to $30 million – to get better costs that included testing, finding a alternative and even a $400,000 advance payment. Palou's argument for breaking his contract got here right down to the sensation that only a reserve role can be available to him in F1, especially within the context of McLaren's F1 squad with Lando Norris signed until 2025 and Oscar Piastri until the tip of 2026. In turn, the preference was to stay in IndyCar.

Dealing with the mental and emotional toll of the contract and legal spectacle, Palou recorded one of the vital dominant seasons within the history of North America's premier open-wheel championship. He scored five wins, 10 podiums and 17 top-eight finishes in 17 rounds to secure the 2023 title on the penultimate round in Portland – a feat not achieved since Sébastien Bourdais in 2007.

Alex Palou's overall stats

Although Palou wasn't as dominant this 12 months, he still scored two wins and 6 podiums in 17 rounds, claiming one other Astor Cup trophy. He also won the $1 Million Challenge non-point exhibition at The Thermal Club.

The latest achievement earned Palou an astonishing list of accolades, including being one in all only 13 drivers to win three or more IndyCar championships. He was also just the seventh to win three league titles in 4 years and the primary to win back-to-back league titles since Dario Franchitti – also with Ganassi – won three in a row within the 2009–2011 season.

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, podium, Dario Franchitti

Photo: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images

At 27 years, five months and 14 days old, Palou became the second-youngest driver to win three IndyCar championships. Only Sam Hornish Jr. was younger, winning his third title in 2006 on the age of 27 years, two months and eight days.

While it's not a totally straight comparison as a consequence of how much the racing schedule has modified over the past twenty years, Palou is a three-time series champion despite having never won on an oval track yet, with all 11 of his wins coming on road and street. Meanwhile, Hornish has 19 profession victories (twenty third all-time), but all of them have come on ovals, and his highest finish on the road track was a runner-up finish at Watkins Glen in 2007 – his final season within the series.

But perhaps probably the most remarkable achievement to date is that Palou has achieved a lot despite only spending five years in IndyCar. He has only 81 starts in his profession, but he won in 13.58% of them and was on the rostrum in 38.27%. Additionally, with 17 races on the 2025 schedule, it's surprising to think he won't hit the century mark by way of starting profession until 2026.

About an hour after Palou won his third title and gave CGR its sixteenth title in Nashville, Ganassi was asked about his driver's performance and if anyone had a comparison.

“You want to make obvious comparisons, but I don't know if you can,” Ganassi said. “At the age he's at, having the ability to do what he's doing, having the experience he's got, especially with the shows as they’re today, with a few of the ovals, these guys usually are not precisely the oval champions that excel within the shows today . There are some higher oval competitors. I'm sure he'll let you know that.

“It's an interesting series now. It's an interesting mix.

“To have a guy like Alex on the team, I told someone, three championships in four years. I mean, I don't know how many guys have three championships, not that many. As they say, he is now in rather thin air. His name must be mentioned in the conversations of great drivers. He is certainly participating in conversations with the greatest.”

Ganassi didn't hesitate to confess that Palou has to date exceeded expectations. When Palou joined CGR, Dixon was fresh from adding a sixth series championship to his own legend. However, since they’re each teammates, Dixon's legacy is kept in check while Palou continues to expand his legacy.

“I had no idea what three of the next four years would be like,” Ganassi said, recalling his first contract with Palou.

“If I said I had a special idea or expectation, I can be lying. I had no idea it will be a lot fun and so successful.

Neither will we, Chip.