“The Biggest Spectacle in Racing” definitely lived as much as its identify after took the checkered flag to win the 109th working of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
The 28-year-old overtook Marcus Ericsson getting into flip 1 on lap 187 of 200 to safe his first-career Indy 500 win whereas making historical past on the identical time.
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The Barcelona native turned the primary Spaniard to win the prized race and added yet one more trophy to his spectacular resume.
After the checkered flag, Palou pulled up simply previous the Yard of Bricks, climbed out of his yellow and crimson No. 10 automobile, waved his fists to the cheering crowd available and made an extended dash to have fun along with his staff and father after throwing his driving gloves off his palms.
The celebration of profitable the Indy 500 was not full for Palou with out ingesting from a milk bottle earlier than kissing the bricks.
Palou celebrates his fifth victory of the 2025 IndyCar season. – Justin Casterline/Getty Photographs
Palou stated his racing profession wouldn’t be full with an Indy 500 victory.
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“I can’t imagine it. What a tremendous day. What a tremendous race,” Palou instructed the Fox broadcast. “…It’s wonderful. It’s wonderful to be right here. It’s wonderful to win. There have been some moments that I felt actually good within the race however ultimately I wasn’t positive if I used to be going to have the ability to move Marcus (Ericsson) or not. Made it occur. First oval win, what a greater place.”
Palou later added that he wasn’t positive what the win meant for Spain however he hoped they have been celebrating.
“Hopefully they’re celebrating as a lot as I’m right here,” Palou instructed reporters. “It makes it further particular that I’m the primary Spanish driver to win it, however actually, if I used to be the fiftieth Spanish driver to win it, I’d be as completely satisfied as I’m now and as proud as I’m now.
“However hopefully that will get extra followers, extra individuals. There was a number of Spanish flags right here at the moment, which I did by no means see, already on the parade laps that we had earlier than the beginning of the race, that we have been saying good day to the followers. I obtained to see the crowds, and there was a number of Spanish flags. It’s fairly cool.”
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The Chip Ganassi Racing driver, who has gained three IndyCar titles in 4 years, got here into the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with 4 wins by way of the primary 5 races this season and has now gained his fifth.
Chip Ganassi Racing secured their sixth Indy 500 win and the primary since 2022. – Christine Tannous/Imagn Photographs/Reuters
It was Indy 500 win quantity six for Ganassi Racing and staff proprietor Chip Ganassi known as his driver “unbelievable.”
“I don’t know what else to say,” Ganassi stated. “It’s an unbelievable factor — it’s going to make Alex Palou’s profession, it will make his life, and it has definitely made mine.”
It was heartbreak for the 2022 Indy 500 winner Ericsson, who completed second for Andretti World. The Swedish driver expressed his disappointment by placing his palms to his face after failing to get his second profession win on the race.
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Ericsson didn’t mince his phrases, calling ending runner up for the second time in his profession “painful.”
“I had the race lined,” Ericsson stated. “I want to take a look at it once more, you replay it in your head one million instances after the end, questioning what I may have accomplished otherwise. Second means nothing on this race.”
David Malukas was third for AJ Foyt Racing.
American Josef Newgarden appeared to win third consecutive Indy 500 however his race got here to an finish early after a gas pump concern.
His Group Penske teammate Will Energy completed nineteenth in a depressing week for the staff that has gained the Indy 500 a file 20 instances. Each Newgarden and Powers began from the rear of the sphere after failing inspection earlier than qualifying.
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Earlier within the week, staff proprietor Roger Penske, fired three of his staff IndyCar executives for a second technical infraction in simply over a yr.
Kyle Larson failed to finish the “Double” for the second consecutive yr after crashing out of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. – Jamie Gallagher/AP
Kyle Larson fails to finish ‘Double’
For the second consecutive yr, NASCAR star Kyle Larson’s quest to finish the well-known “Double” of ending each the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the identical day got here to an unlucky finish.
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Collection champion crashed out on lap 91 after his automobile spun into the infield earlier than colliding with the surface wall in flip 2 shortly after a restart, in the end ending in twenty seventh place.
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The crash additionally concerned drivers Sting Ray Robb and Kyffin Simpson, which ended their day as effectively.
“Only a bit loopy there on the restart,” Larson stated. “I obtained like, tight behind Takuma (Sato). I used to be actually shut in. … I obtained unfastened and sort of obtained in every single place, and yeah, so it spun. Simply hate that – I obtained somewhat too keen on the restart. Hate it for everyone that obtained caught up in it. Yeah, bummed out.
“Attempt to recover from this shortly and attempt to get on to Charlotte. Simply attempt to neglect about it and attempt to win the subsequent one.”
This was Larson’s second consecutive try and develop into the second driver ever to perform it, the primary being Tony Stewart in 2001.
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Final yr, stored him from finishing the uncommon 1,100-mile feat.
In 1994, John Andretti turned the primary driver to attempt to full the Indy 500-Coca-Cola 600 double with Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch additionally making an attempt it afterward.
The “Double” is considered one of many hardest challenges in motorsport because of the psychological and bodily toll of driving 1,100 miles in a single day, navigating the variations between open-wheel and inventory automobiles and the exhausting journey schedule.
With the crash, the Hendrick Motorsports driver Larson was in a position to arrive at Charlotte Motor Speedway with loads of time earlier than the scheduled inexperienced flag at 6 p.mET the place he’s beginning on the entrance row.
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