Alex Palou, the two-time defending IndyCar Series champion, is coming off his third championship in 4 years as he heads into 2025. It will likely be his fifth 12 months with Chip Ganassi Racing, which a number of years in the past would have been a shock after he had signed to hitch McLaren, sparking a authorized battle that continues to at the present time and had Palou semi-jokingly thanking his many legal professionals in his championship trophy acceptance speech.
Palou sat down with FOX Sports activities at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after final season to speak about profitable the 2024 and looking forward to 2025 — the place he hopes to lastly earn that first win on an oval.
How would you characterize the 2024 championship season? In comparison with the others, not as many wins, however a slew of top-5s?
It has been totally different. Each season is totally different. I’d say we have been tremendous fortunate in 2023 with so many wins, tremendous constant, plenty of podiums. This one was a bit tougher. We bought two wins, which they’re exhausting to get. In IndyCar these days, it is tremendous exhausting to get a win, so nonetheless attending to [win] felt nice. Nevertheless it was a bit extra about consistency. I’d say we bought a bunch of top-5s, a bit little bit of drama right here and there with Iowa, the place we crashed and Detroit, the place we could not rating many factors both. It has been an entire 12 months [in 2024]. I’d say that is my favourite one up to now. My daughter was born again in 2023 in December. So it was the primary time that I might, as an example, expertise racing together with her, and in addition having this one again to again with so many points that we truly had, it felt wonderful.
No person will get 10 podiums due to luck, although, as you probably did in 2023. Do you are feeling such as you raced as nicely in 2024 or higher or worse than 2023?
I feel it is robust. I’d say that some races, we truly maximized our efficiency this 12 months whereas final 12 months perhaps it felt like we had potential for extra. However there’s been some races this 12 months as nicely that did not really feel like we bought it proper — each in, I’d say, automotive efficiency or driving-wise. Racing is tough. You’ve gotten a magical 12 months. We bought the benefit of that [in 2023]. So I am comfortable that with out having a loopy, magical 12 months, we’re in a position to win the championship as nicely.
Some individuals would say, OK, three titles. What extra is there to do? However I think about profitable on an oval is first on the record and profitable right here at Indianapolis might be double No. 1 on the record. Clearly, you’d come again anyway. However does that present any extra depth to return again and defend?
Yeah, completely. It has been loopy that we’ve not gained on an oval but. It is exhausting to win races, as I mentioned, however we have been shut. We have been second, second, second, third, fourth — we have been round knocking on that door numerous instances, particularly at this place at IMS, it is so exhausting to get a win with 200 laps, 500 miles, five-to-six pit stops. So much can occur, and every part must fall your means throughout that month, however particularly throughout that day to attempt to win it. We’ll attempt to work more durable this 12 months with the staff, with myself, attempt to get our first oval win, and hopefully it may be right here.
Meet Alex Palou and welcome to the quickest racing on Earth
There’s all the time a debate — ought to there be extra ovals? Ought to there be fewer ovals? Would you like extra ovals or do you, since you’re so good on the street programs, are you want, let’s preserve it the best way it’s?
I feel it relies upon. If you happen to add in some totally different oval tracks. I am up for it. I do know I am struggling a bit bit greater than different locations, however in time, sometime, I am going to get it proper, and sometime, hopefully we’ll begin profitable on ovals as nicely. I am not a giant fan of doubleheaders on ovals. I feel it is a number of work for everyone — for drivers, mechanics, the crew particularly, they work so exhausting. And likewise for the followers, it is like they see the identical factor throughout. However I feel we’re stepping out a bit bit from doubleheaders. I feel we will preserve one at Iowa, which is rather like one occasion the place we’ve double races. However I am excited for brand new races. If we carry on including races, I am going to welcome it. I prefer to race. So wherever we go, I will be comfortable.
You definitely have had the drama off the observe and a few individuals would simply fold and simply wouldn’t be capable of compete at such a excessive stage with it happening. What’s it about both your upbringing or an expertise that you just really feel like allowed you to place what is going on on off the observe out of your thoughts and carry out so nicely on the observe?
We for certain have had a number of drama off the observe, greater than what we might have preferred for certain. However the good factor is that it is a bit bit up to now. So 2022 was actually exhausting. I’d say even 2023 was so much. On the finish of the day, my job is simply to race, to attempt to go exhausting on observe, attempt to be the most effective every single day that I put my go well with and my helmet on — and that is very straightforward in comparison with different points that you could possibly have in life. So, yeah, there was a number of drama. There was strain and unhealthy media that I personally created. It isn’t that it was anyone else’s fault. However, yeah, it’s what it’s. I am nonetheless dwelling my dream. I used to be nonetheless racing in IndyCar. I used to be nonetheless combating for races and championships. So I could not complain. So perhaps that is why it was straightforward to focus.
Will or not it’s totally different with three automobiles in 2025 as a substitute of 5 as you had in 2024 within the Ganassi IndyCar secure?
Once I first got here to the CGR staff, we have been already 4. It would not actually change a lot. I feel it would not change with CGR, the group, as a result of they’re able to operating eight automobiles. So operating 5 for them did not actually create any drama. Operating three, it isn’t going to immediately make issues worse. If one thing, I feel it most likely will assist focus a bit bit extra. However as I mentioned, we have been able to operating eight automobiles. So it isn’t going to be a giant deal of like, “Oh, now we’ve sufficient mechanics.” No, we had loads. We had loads of engineering as nicely. So I am excited for the longer term. I am excited for making an attempt to maximise what we’ve in three automobiles. However I’d say the great factor, the benefit of getting 5 automobiles was that we get 5 different types of knowledge. Whereas these days we are going to get two much less. So, anyway, identical as all different groups.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and IndyCar for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years overlaying motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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