Alex Palou is a three-time IndyCar Sequence champion, with the final two clinched in gorgeous back-to-back success. But, whilst a reigning champ, Palou feels his resume is unfinished with out a victory within the Indianapolis 500.
“You can’t be a tremendous IndyCar driver with out successful the Indy 500, for positive,” Palou instructed Motorsport.com. “I might say successful it a number of instances, it’s actually powerful simply because it doesn’t rely solely on you. However successful it one time with the staff I’ve run must be accomplished. I don’t must do it subsequent 12 months or the next one; I’ve a variety 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 sturdy type in “The Biggest Spectacle in Racing,” Palou takes nothing without any consideration after witnessing how powerful it has been for Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon through the years. A six-time sequence champion, Dixon’s stout file on the Indy 500 consists of final glory in 2008 but it surely 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 in the course of 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 very best IndyCar driver we’ve had in, I might say, virtually ever. Yeah, hopefully, I can win it sometime. However, sure, I don’t assume the job is full till we win an Indy 500, which might imply that I received on an oval, as nicely.”
Additional concerning 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 powerful to win one championship,” Palou mentioned. “It’s more durable to win two. And it’s more durable, more durable to win three. I believe it simply turns into harder each time, even when plainly we’re midway to 6, we’re a protracted, great distance.”
However that’s already midway to Dixon.
“Yeah, but it surely’s 100% of what I’ve accomplished,” Palou mentioned. “It’s loads, so I don’t know the place is the restrict. I’m actually fairly positive that with this staff and with the work that they put in and what I wish to put in, we will carry on successful and combating for championships. Sure, I wish to win eight, however I’m centered on subsequent 12 months. 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 residence nation to win the Indy 500, but additionally 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 12 months and the championship and tie with Dario and be like, ‘Hey, I’ve accomplished it as nicely,’” Palou mentioned. “So, that’s the subsequent aim. I’m not serious about the rest than that simply to have the ability to make enjoyable of Dario; that’s the aim.”
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