Indy 500 Champ Alex Palou Shuns F1 for IndyCar’s Heart and Soul

Alex Palou, fresh off his first Indianapolis 500 victory, is basking in the glory of open-wheel racing supremacy. The IndyCar star, who claimed his fifth win in six races this season, has firmly planted his flag in IndyCar, dismissing any whispers of a Formula 1 move. "F1 isn’t calling me anymore," Palou declared, his voice brimming with contentment. He’s not just a driver; he’s a family man who cherishes celebrating with his wife and kids, something he finds lacking in the glitzy, high-octane world of F1.

Palou’s love for IndyCar runs deep. "I don’t see them hanging in the bus lot or having dinner with their mechanics," he told reporters, contrasting F1’s polished veneer with IndyCar’s camaraderie. His journey to this moment wasn’t without detours—he tested the F1 waters with McLaren in 2022 and served as a reserve driver in 2023, but never raced. Before IndyCar, he tackled Formula 2 and 3, finishing seventh in the 2018 F3 championship. Since joining IndyCar in 2020 with Dale Coyne Racing and moving to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021, Palou has clinched three championships and is eyeing a fourth.

Chip Ganassi, his team boss, didn’t mince words: "He’s one of the greats." High praise for a driver who’s not just winning races but redefining what it means to thrive in motorsport—on his own terms.