Alex Palou cemented his legacy in motorsports with a historic first oval victory at the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. The three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion won under caution after rookie Nolan Siegel crashed in Turn 2, securing his fifth win of the season and extending his championship lead.
Palou overtook Marcus Ericsson on Lap 187 and never looked back, eventually finishing ahead of a gritty David Malukas. “It’s amazing to win,” Palou said. “There were some moments I felt really good in the race, but at the end, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to pass Marcus or not.”
Palou’s victory also marked a milestone for his team, Chip Ganassi Racing, as they earned their sixth Indy 500 win and first since Ericsson took the title in 2022. Team owner Chip Ganassi hailed Palou’s achievement, stating it will “make Alex Palou’s career and life.”
The intense duel between Palou and Ericsson was a highlight of the race, with both drivers pushing each other to the limit before Palou made his move on Lap 187. Despite finishing second for the second time in three years, Ericsson praised Palou’s driving skills, saying “it was painful” to miss out.
With this win, Palou secured a spot on the Borg-Warner Trophy and cemented his place among the sport’s all-time greats. The victory also marked a dominant performance from Palou, who padded his championship lead and took home his fifth win of the season.
Source: https://www.indycar.com/news/2025/05/05-25-500-race-lead