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| Chip Ganassi Racing's now 8 race winner in 14 races, during a 17 race season, celebrates his win in the Java House Grand Prix Of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Image Credit Betty Garcia (2025) |
Alex Palou’s Pursuit Of History And Legacy At The 2025 BITNILE.com Grand Prix Of Portland
As the 2025 NTT INDYCAR Series season nears its climax, all eyes are on Alex
Palou, the two-time defending champion who stands on the cusp of a historic
third consecutive title. Leading Pato O’Ward by 121 points, Palou could clinch
the championship at the BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI
on August 10, 2025, if he maintains a lead of 108 points or more. With two
victories and three podiums at Portland International Raceway, the 28-year-old
Spaniard is poised to cement his legacy as one of INDYCAR’s all-time greats.
Beyond the track, Palou’s reflections on family, legacy, and his meteoric rise
reveal a driver grounded by personal milestones and driven by an unrelenting
pursuit of excellence.
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A Dominant Season and a Chance to Seal the Deal
Palou’s 2025 campaign has been nothing short of extraordinary, with eight
victories propelling him from 40th to 25th on INDYCAR’s all-time wins list,
surpassing legends like Gil de Ferran, Simon Pagenaud, and Ryan Hunter-Reay.
“I cannot really comprehend everything that’s happening,” Palou admitted
during a recent Zoom press conference, his humility contrasting with his
staggering achievements. His dominance has drawn comparisons to the sport’s
titans, with names like Emerson Fittipaldi (22 wins) and Rick Mears (29 wins)
now within reach. Yet, Palou remains focused on the immediate challenge:
Portland, a track where he’s thrived, winning in 2021 and 2023 and finishing
second in 2024 despite Will Power’s blistering pace.
Portland’s 1.964-mile, 12-turn layout suits Palou’s precise driving style,
which he describes as requiring a “99 percent” effort to avoid the walls that
punish overzealous moves. “It just really matches my style,” he said, noting
the track’s narrow, street-course-like demands. With qualifying critical to
avoiding Turn 1 chaos—a lesson learned from a pole-to-20th drop in a past race
- Palou aims to start up front and dictate his fate. His strategy is clear:
“If we win the race at Portland, we can seal the championship there.” Rather
than settling for a safe finish, he’s chasing a ninth victory, which would
bring him closer to tying the single-season win record.
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| Primary to Alex Palou, Esther Valle and Lucia Palou, greet Alex at the Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup victory circle. Image Credit: Chris Owens via NICS (2025) |
Family as the Heart of Success
While Palou’s on-track prowess dominates headlines, his role as a father has
added profound depth to his journey. Becoming a dad has transformed his
perspective, making victories sweeter and setbacks more bearable. “It’s made
my life just a lot more special,” he shared, describing the joy of returning
to his daughter after a race. “Whenever it’s a good day, you can celebrate
even better because you’re happy not only about your success but what it’s
bringing to the family.” Photos of his daughter in Victory Lane have become
cherished mementos of a season defined by both professional triumph and
personal fulfillment. Even on tough days, her unconditional love resets his
focus: “She doesn’t care, she’s still playing, and she just wants to hug you.”
Palou’s family ties extend to his childhood, where his father, a mechanic, was
his first hero. “I thought he was the best driver in the world because he was
able to teach me so well,” he recalled. This familial foundation fuels his
desire to inspire the next generation. The idea that young fans might look up
to him as he once idolized Michael Schumacher during Ferrari’s dominant era is
“crazy” but deeply meaningful. “If I can help a young kid be a bit more
motivated to enter motorsport, that would make my life,” he said.
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| Respect. Image Credit: Chris Owens via NICS (2025) |
Navigating Rivalries and Respect
Palou’s eight wins in 2025 have outpaced the career totals of peers like Scott
McLaughlin and matched those of Alexander Rossi, while he’s closing in on Pato
O’Ward and Colton Herta. Despite his dominance, he insists his competitors
haven’t treated him differently, though he acknowledges their frustration with
a laugh: “I know they don’t like it. It’s competition.” His focus remains on
his own performance, crediting Chip Ganassi Racing for providing a car that’s
“been feeling amazing this year everywhere we’ve been, especially road
courses.”
A Vision for INDYCAR’s Future
Beyond his personal achievements, Palou is optimistic about INDYCAR’s
trajectory, particularly with FOX’s recent minority stake acquisition. “Having
a partner like FOX, that they don’t need to look for how to reach more people,
is going to be huge,” he said, praising their promotional efforts, from fuel
station ads to visibility during major sports broadcasts. While he’s intrigued
by the idea of international races—perhaps even in his native Spain - he
believes the series should prioritize markets with passionate fan bases. “We
need to try and find those people that would be willing to sacrifice so much
for INDYCAR,” he noted.
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| Image Credit: Joe Skibinski via NICS (2025) |
Ovals and the Road Ahead
With two oval races remaining after Portland - Milwaukee and Nashville - Palou
is also chasing another milestone: leading the oval standings. Trailing O’Ward
by just one point after securing his first two oval wins in 2025, he’s buoyed
by newfound confidence. “It feels amazing,” he said of closing the gap, citing
a test session at Iowa as a turning point. A test at Nashville before the
season finale offers hope for further improvement, though he remains cautious
about past struggles at both tracks.
A Legacy in the Making
As Alex Palou prepares for Portland, he carries the weight of history and the
promise of legacy. Reflecting on his rookie self in 2020, he’d advise simply
to “enjoy and work hard,” recognizing that success is built on incremental
gains and resilience through inevitable setbacks. With a potential fourth
championship in six years, he’s crafting a Hall-of-Fame career at a
breathtaking pace. Yet, it’s the balance of racing glory and family joy that
defines his 2025 season.
Sunday’s BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI race will
air live on FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network at 3 p.m.
ET. The weekend’s first practice is at 5:30 p.m. ET Friday on FS2 and the
INDYCAR Radio Network.
As he navigates Portland’s challenging corners, Palou is not just racing for
points or records but for a legacy that inspires both his daughter and the
next generation of motor-culture dreamers watching from the stands.
... notes from
The EDJE
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Racing, family, legacy, Pato O'Ward, #IndyCarOnFOX, FOX, racing, oval standings, Michael Schumacher, young fans, 2025
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