Alex Palou clinches fourth IndyCar championship with two races left in 2025 season.

Alex Palou has delivered a display of IndyCar dominance rarely seen in modern motorsport, sealing his fourth championship title of his career with two races still on the calendar. With eight wins already this season—and a soaring lead over Pato O’Ward—Palou has firmly cemented his place among the all-time greats in IndyCar history. Meanwhile, legendary veteran Will Power grabbed victory in Portland, raising questions about his future with Team Penske.

A Championship Sealed in Style

On Sunday, August 10, at Portland International Raceway, Alex Palou finished third behind winner Will Power and Christian Lundgaard. That result extended his lead over closest rival Pato O’Ward to an unreachable 151 points—even with a maximum of 108 still available in the final two race weekends in Milwaukee (August 23–24) and Nashville (August 30–31). The championship is now officially Palou’s, a feat he’s been threatening all season long.

O’Ward, who began the weekend with a slim mathematical chance, qualified on pole but suffered a power failure after the Lap 21 restart, dropping him eight laps behind—effectively ending any comeback hopes. What once seemed like a miraculous rally is now firmly in the rearview mirror.

From Rookie Doubt to Record-Bound Rampage

Palou’s story this season follows a true motorsport underdog narrative. In his 2021 rookie campaign, even he questioned whether his IndyCar career would last past one year. Yet every step since joining Chip Ganassi Racing has accelerated his rise. He kicked off 2025 with five wins in the first six races—a distinction achieved only by legends A.J. Foyt (1964, 1979) and Al Unser Sr. (1971). Only one of those drivers—Foyt in 1964—captured both the Indy 500 and the championship in the same season. Palou has now joined that elite club for the first time in 15 years since Dario Franchitti in 2010.

Currently sitting on eight victories, Palou still has two races left to chase A.J. Foyt’s record 10-win season (a mark also tied by Al Unser Sr., but never surpassed). Even without breaking it, his 2025 campaign ranks as one of IndyCar’s most remarkable ever.

Making IndyCar History, One Title at a Time

With this victory, Palou becomes just the third driver to win three consecutive IndyCar championships—standing alongside Ted Horn (1946–48), Sébastien Bourdais (2004–07), and Dario Franchitti (2009–11). He also joins Foyt, Bourdais, and Franchitti as the rare few to claim four titles within five consecutive seasons. Moreover, he matches Bourdais' pace: four titles in six (or fewer) seasons.

Only six drivers in major American open-wheel racing history have reached four championships—and another title would elevate Palou into rarified air, alongside legends Foyt and Scott Dixon.

On top of Palou’s personal achievements, this marks the 17th IndyCar championship for Chip Ganassi Racing in 30 years—tying Team Penske for the most in series history.

The Human Story Behind the Champion

Imagine the fire in a driver who starts his career unsure if it will last a single season—then turns that uncertainty into one of the sport’s most dominant runs. Through electrifying speed, unshakeable confidence, and flawless execution, Alex Palou has won not just races, but the hearts of fans who thrive on legendary seasons.