28-Yo Indy 500 Champ Details Raw Emotions Behind Historic Win

Few talents in modern motorsport have navigated a path as serpentine as Alex Palou. Born in Barcelona in 1997, he honed his craft in European karting and single-seaters before dazzling Japan’s Super Formula and storming into the American IndyCar paddock. By 2021, at just 24, he claimed his first championship trophy—a prelude to greater glory. Yet even that milestone dimmed beside the siren call of the Indianapolis 500.

Since 1911, the Indy 500 has reigned as motorsport’s ultimate crucible: 500 miles of searing speeds, passes measured in thousandths of a second, and a hallowed “yard of bricks” kissed only by victors. For Palou, now a three-time series champion, the Brickyard’s allure was irresistible. Arriving in May 2025, he carried not just Chip Ganassi Racing’s hopes, but the dreams of a nation yearning for its first Indy 500 champion.

On May 25, destiny ignited. Palou threaded his No. 10 Honda through traffic with surgical precision, harnessing a draft down the backstretch to seize the lead with 15 to go. As he crossed the line, the roar of 200,000 fans crashed over him, a tidal wave so overwhelming that his voice began fraying before he even climbed from the cockpit. What followed was no scripted celebration; it was pure, unfiltered euphoria. So, how does a champion distill years of sacrifice into 2.5 miles of immortality? Palou’s answer left him breathless and reconsider his F1 ambitions.

Palou is soaking in his biggest racing triumph

Palou confessed that by the time he reached Victory Lane, he’d “lost my voice already,” the byproduct of a roar so immense it nearly stole his breath. He’d spent that final slow lap alone in the car, “waving and screaming,” savoring a moment years in the making. But it wasn’t until he killed the engine that the tide truly broke. “Once I stopped the car…and I got out of the car, I was able to hear the fans for the first time. And it was huge. The energy there was huge. They were all screaming as well. So that just gave me even more energy.”

He lost his voice from celebrating, but #Indy500 winner @AlexPalou was still able to talk with @KevinHarvick about his emotional victory and trying to get his daughter to kiss the iconic @IMS bricks.

Full interview here https://t.co/MD13iwFhq3 pic.twitter.com/3C2A76tv8V

— HarvickHappyHour (@HarvickHappyPod) May 28, 2025

Palou has been the best driver in the Series for the past few years, and now that he’s added the Borg-Warner trophy to his collection, he can finally feel won it all in his IndyCar career. This was also Chip Ganassi Racing‘s sixth Indy 500 triumph, which is only second to Team Penske’s massive tally of 20. Well, he did share a wholesome moment with his family and even tried to get his little girl to kiss the bricks. Though she couldn’t quite lean all the way down, Palou smiled as she “was trying…sending kisses to the bricks,” a tender reminder that, for him, racing isn’t just about speed—it’s about family too.

And while there have been talks about him looking to make the switch to F1, the Indy 500 win seems to have mesmerized him. “I’m a big fan, but I don’t think they’re having as much fun as I’m having here. I don’t see people celebrating with their wives and kids as much as we do. I only enjoy driving and having fun and being with my people, so I think (F1) is the total opposite.” He said this to IndyStar. It looks like Palou prefers the milk over champagne, and he certainly has found his new home in IndyCar.

Although the Chip Ganassi Racing star might have dropped his plans to compete in Europe, it seems like he wouldn’t mind dipping his toes in NASCAR.

Will Alex Palou follow in Helio Castroneves’ footsteps?

It’s not uncommon for IndyCar drivers to switch lanes to the high banks and ovals of NASCAR. A. J. Foyt, Tony Stewart, and Juan Pablo Montoya have all made this crossover. While Palou might not be the best racer on the ovals, he can hop in a Cup car at a road course or street race in Chicago. When Harvick asked the Indy 500 winner about the possibility of competing in NASCAR, he didn’t flinch and welcomed the idea wholeheartedly.

“I’d be down for that. It’s a very different car. It’s a very different kind of racing. I know I would get smashed by all of you guys on ovals, but I would love to give it a try at a road or a street course.” Palou stated. NASCAR does have five races on the road courses that are coming up on the schedule. And the best bet right now seems to be the Project 91 entry that gave Helio Castroneves a ride at the Daytona 500.

NASCAR has introduced the Open Exemption Provisional (OEP) through which a non-NASCAR superstar driver can secure a spot on the grid. Imagine Alex Palou and Shane van Gisbergen going up against the rest of the competition on the streets of Chicago or the tight corners of Watkins Glen. Especially with the OEP now in place, this crossover has become more seamless than ever, and while he downplays his oval prowess, who knows he could do well at the Daytona 500? After all, he just won the Indianapolis 500.

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