Alex Palou is a three-time IndyCar Sequence champion, with the final two clinched in beautiful back-to-back success. But, whilst a reigning champ, Palou feels his resume is unfinished and not using a victory within the Indianapolis 500.
“You can’t be an incredible IndyCar driver with out successful the Indy 500, for certain,” Palou informed Motorsport.com. “I might say successful it a number of occasions, it’s actually robust simply because it doesn’t rely solely on you. However successful it one time with the workforce I’ve run needs to be carried out. I don’t have to do it subsequent yr or the next one; I’ve plenty of years to do it.”
Whereas the Spaniard has but to win a race on an oval, he completed runner-up within the 2021 version of the Indy 500 after main the second-most laps (35). He additionally captured the pole for the 2023 occasion. In his 5 profession Indy 500 begins, he has led in 4 of them for a complete of 119 laps.
Regardless of his robust kind in “The Best Spectacle in Racing,” Palou takes nothing with no consideration after witnessing how robust it has been for Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon over time. A six-time sequence champion, Dixon’s stout file on the Indy 500 consists of final glory in 2008 however it stands as his solely victory in 22 begins, which additionally consists of three runner-up finishes, 5 poles and 677 laps led (most all-time).
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda crossing the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway throughout the Month of Might
Picture by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Photographs
“Dixon, it’s wild that he solely has one, however that’s the way it goes,” Palou mentioned. “And he’s the most effective IndyCar driver we’ve had in, I might say, nearly ever. Yeah, hopefully, I can win it sometime. However, sure, I don’t suppose the job is full till we win an Indy 500, which might imply that I received on an oval, as properly.”
Additional relating to his personal legacy and what has been achieved in solely 5 seasons within the sport, the 27-year-old Palou doesn’t take into consideration how a lot larger the ceiling can go.
“I believe it’s actually robust to win one championship,” Palou mentioned. “It’s harder to win two. And it’s harder, harder to win three. I believe it simply turns into harder each time, even when it appears that evidently we’re midway to 6, we’re an extended, good distance.”
However that’s already midway to Dixon.
“Yeah, however it’s 100% of what I’ve carried out,” Palou mentioned. “It’s quite a bit, so I don’t know the place is the restrict. I’m actually fairly certain that with this workforce and with the work that they put in and what I wish to put in, we are able to carry on successful and combating for championships. Sure, I wish to win eight, however I’m centered on subsequent yr. I don’t try to win eight and that’s my aim.
And staying in to the current second has Palou not solely locked in on turning into the primary driver from his house nation to win the Indy 500, but in addition capturing three consecutive championships – a mark that will transfer him alongside Dario Franchitti’s magical run from 2009-11.
“I’ll try to win the Indy 500 subsequent yr and the championship and tie with Dario and be like, ‘Hey, I’ve carried out it as properly,’” Palou mentioned. “So, that’s the following aim. I’m not desirous about the rest than that simply to have the ability to make enjoyable of Dario; that’s the aim.”
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