Alex Palou becomes first Spanish driver to win the Indy 500

Alex Palou has etched his name into motorsport history, becoming the first Spanish driver to win the prestigious Indy 500. The reigning IndyCar Series champion capped off a dominant season start with a thrilling victory at "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," securing his sixth win of the 2025 season.

Palou celebrated the milestone moment in traditional Indy 500 fashion, by drinking milk in victory lane. He shared the moment with his wife and infant, before handing the bottle to team owner Chip Ganassi, who took a celebratory sip.

"I have to tell you, it was the best milk I ever had," said Palou, beaming with pride.

Palou and his entourage took a celebratory lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the back of a pickup truck, with Palou rising to the roof and lifting his arms in triumph. Draped in the iconic victory wreath, he briefly lost his footing before Ganassi caught him—an unscripted moment of camaraderie and celebration.

The win was especially significant for Palou, who had openly declared that his career would feel incomplete without an Indy 500 triumph.

"If he was to go through his whole career and not win here at Indianapolis, it wouldn’t be a complete career," Ganassi emphasized. "This is going to make Alex Palou’s career. It is going to make his life."

Palou played it smart in the final laps, conserving fuel while tracking former teammate Marcus Ericsson. With just 16 laps to go, Palou made a decisive move to overtake Ericsson—a strategy that paid off as he surged ahead unchallenged, winning under a caution flag caused by a late crash.

Palou halted just beyond the Yard of Bricks, leapt out of his car, and sprinted down the front stretch in celebration. He was soon embraced by his father, Ramon, and teammates, including Indy 500 legends Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti.

Palou’s historic win was met with unprecedented support from Spanish fans, who filled the stands with red and yellow flags and chants of his name.

"It makes it extra special that I’m the first Spanish driver to win it," Palou said. "But honestly, if I was the 50th, I would be just as happy."

Race Results and Highlights

• 2nd Place: Marcus Ericsson – A heartbreaking finish after leading late in the race.
• 3rd Place: David Maluks (A.J. Foyt Racing) – A career-best result.
• 4th Place: Pato O’Ward – Consistently strong, finishing top 6 in five of six career Indy 500 starts.

Ericsson, visibly emotional post-race, said:

“Second means nothing in this race. I’ll be replaying those last laps in my head for a long time.”

Penske’s Disappointing Day

Josef Newgarden, aiming for a third straight Indy 500 win, was eliminated due to a fuel pump issue. Both he and Will Power started from the back row after inspection failures, and Power finished 19th—the highest among Team Penske drivers on a forgettable day.

Roger Penske, who owns IndyCar, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Indy 500, faced added scrutiny after dismissing top executives earlier in the week for repeated technical infractions.

NASCAR driver Kyle Larson's attempt to complete "the double"—racing in both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600—was cut short after he crashed out before heading to Charlotte.

Alex Palou’s Championship Momentum

With this win, Alex Palou strengthens his grip on a potential fourth IndyCar Championship. Since joining Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021, he’s claimed three titles and now adds an Indy 500 win to his stellar resume.

Ganassi praised his star driver:

"That kid’s a good driver. I think he’s off to a good start. We might be looking at another championship."