IndyCar: Alex Palou names 5 threats to end his championship run in 2025

As a seasoned IndyCar enthusiast who has witnessed countless thrilling races and championship battles, I must say that Alex Palou’s back-to-back titles are nothing short of impressive. His consistency and ability to perform under pressure are truly remarkable, especially considering his relatively few race wins compared to some of his competitors.

Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing achieved something no IndyCar driver had accomplished since Dario Franchitti between 2009 and 2011 by winning two consecutive championships, making it his third title in a four-year span which he claimed last Sunday at the Nashville Superspeedway.

This year, Palou earned the distinction of being the first driver to secure a championship before the final race since 2007. Although he won only two races in total, his remarkable consistency almost enabled him to do it again. Unfortunately, a battery issue with his No. 10 Honda just prior to the second-to-last race at Milwaukee Mile prevented him from achieving this feat.

Despite tying for the series lead with three victories in his championship year of 2021 and topping the series with five wins during his triumphant 2023 season, it was Palou’s unwavering consistency that ultimately led him to claim the Astor Cup.

If each of the eight wins that Palou achieved had been changed into second place finishes instead, and the original runners-up from these races were elevated to first place (winners), Palou would still have emerged victorious in both championships.

In 2024, I didn’t manage to top the series wins, a feat I would’ve achieved if we’re talking hypotheticals. Instead, my rival, Colton Herta from Andretti Global, beat me by 31 points. If things had gone differently, it would have been a one-point gap between us.

Indeed, all seven champions from 2024 had multiple race victories, which was unprecedented in the history of the series. In other words, no driver who won a race that year had fewer wins than the 27-year-old Spaniard did. However, he still emerged victorious with a substantial advantage.

So who are his top threats?

In his statement, Palou pointed out five drivers – Scott Dixon, his teammate on the Team Penske, along with Scott McLaughlin, Will Power, Josef Newgarden from the same team, and Herta – whom he thinks have the potential to compete against him. He also hinted that there might be other contenders as well.

In simpler terms, Palou stated to Beyond the Flag, “It’s challenging to predict, given that one might be absent. Firstly, Dixon. I must admit, I was taken aback by the improvement in performance from Colton and Andretti this year, so they will likely be competing.

Despite Dixon ending the season in a sixth-place spot, which was his poorest performance since 2005, his victories in two races prove that he remains a formidable competitor who should not be underestimated.

Regarding Herta, it’s quite remarkable how he managed to trail Palou by just 31 points despite the numerous setbacks and issues that affected both Herta and team number 26 throughout the season.

In essence, Palou pointed out that Team Penske as a whole is his pick. He mentioned McLaughlin and Power specifically, while also acknowledging Newgarden’s success in the Indy 500, despite not being a championship contender this season. He assured us that Newgarden will undoubtedly return next year.

As a gamer, I’ve consistently been delivering top-notch performances for Team Penske and Chevrolet over the past two seasons, securing the highest spots in the standings for both. Last year, I equaled my personal best with three victories and ended up third in points. This year, Power was the only championship contender besides Palou, and he also managed to claim three wins following a winless season in 2023.

speaking of Newgarden, despite it being considered a subpar year by some, he still managed to secure multiple victories, including a triumph at Indy 500. Unfortunately, a disqualification from St. Petersburg race prevented him from achieving three wins. This decision moved him down the rankings from fifth to eighth place in the final standings, marking his worst result since he raced for Sarah Fisher back in 2014.

Absolutely, I’d point out these teams as my top contenders at the moment. However, there might be others who are flying under the radar or haven’t crossed my mind yet.

Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren stands out following his second consecutive top-five championship placement and fourth such finish in five years since his full-time entry into the series. In 2024, he achieved a personal best of three race victories, equaling the most wins in the series, after a season without any victories in 2023.

2024 was a year I didn’t bag a win, but Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, who took two victories the previous year and managed a quiet fourth place on road and street courses without a win, outranked Newgarden in the overall standings.

Starting from March 2, 2025, the IndyCar season will kick off with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in the city streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Fox will be broadcasting this event and every other race on the schedule consisting of 17 races.

2024-09-21 17:32