Álex Palou facts for kids
{{Infobox person | name = Álex Palou | image = Alex Palou at 2024 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.jpg | caption = Palou at the 2024 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix | birth_name = Álex Palou Montalbo | birth_date = 1 April 1997 | birth_place = Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Barcelona, Spain | nationality = 
Spanish | spouse =
| children = 1
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Álex Palou Montalbo is a Spanish racing driver. He was born on April 1, 1997. He drives for Chip Ganassi Racing in the IndyCar Series. He has won the IndyCar championship three times: in 2021, 2023, and 2024.
Álex Palou also won the famous 2025 Indianapolis 500 race. He is the first Spanish driver to win a major championship in American open-wheel racing. He was also the first Spaniard to win a race in the GP3 Series and the Indianapolis 500.
Contents
| IndyCar Series career | |||||||
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| 93 races run over 6 years | |||||||
| Team(s) | No. 10 (Chip Ganassi Racing) | ||||||
| Best finish | 1st (2021, 2023, 2024) | ||||||
| First race | 2020 Genesys 300 (Texas) | ||||||
| Last race | 2021 Honda Indy 200 (Mid-Ohio) | ||||||
| First win | 2021 Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama (Birmingham) | ||||||
| Last win | 2025 Farm to Finish 275 (Iowa) | ||||||
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| IMSA SportsCar Championship career | |||||||
| Debut season | 2022 | ||||||
| Current team | Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb-Agajanian | ||||||
| Racing licence |  FIA Platinum |
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| Car no. | 93 | ||||||
| Former teams | Cadillac Racing | ||||||
| Starts | 4 | ||||||
| Wins | 0 | ||||||
| Podiums | 1 | ||||||
| Poles | 0 | ||||||
| Fastest laps | 0 | ||||||
| Best finish | 24th in 2022 | ||||||
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |||||||
| Years | 2024 | ||||||
| Teams | Cadillac-Ganassi | ||||||
| Best finish | 7th (2024) | ||||||
| Class wins | 0 | ||||||
| Previous series | |||||||
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| Championship titles | |||||||
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IndyCar Series (2021, 2023, 2024)
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Early Racing Days
Álex Palou started his racing journey in karting in 2003. He quickly showed his talent. In 2012, he won his only international karting title in the KF3 category of the WSK Euro Series. He finished second in the CIK-FIA European Championship that same year.
First Steps in Open-Wheel Racing
In 2014, Palou began racing in open-wheel cars. He joined Campos Racing for the Euroformula Open Championship. He had a great start, winning the first race at the Nürburgring. He also won the final race of the season in Barcelona. He finished third overall in the series standings.
Racing in Europe
GP3 Series Adventures
In 2015, Palou moved up to the GP3 Series with Campos Racing. He faced some challenges early on, but he kept improving. He ended the year with a big win in Abu Dhabi. This made him the first Spanish driver to win a race in the GP3 Series.
He continued in the GP3 Series in 2016. He earned a second-place finish at Silverstone. He finished 15th in the overall standings that year.
Other European Races
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In 2017, Palou also raced in the World Series Formula V8 3.5 championship. He won one race and earned three pole positions. He finished 10th in the championship despite only racing in three rounds.
He also competed in two rounds of the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2017. He scored 5 points in these races.
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In 2018, Palou returned to Europe for a full season in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. He drove for Hitech Bullfrog GP. He had a strong season, earning seven podium finishes. He ended the year in 7th place in the championship.
Racing in Japan
Japanese Formula 3 Success
Palou moved to Japan in 2017 to race in Japanese Formula 3. He drove for Threebond with Drago Corse. He won three races during the season. He finished third in the championship standings.
Super GT and Super Formula
In 2019, Palou returned to Japan to race in two different series. He competed in the Super GT GT300 class and in Super Formula.
In Super GT, he teamed up with Seiji Ara. They achieved one podium finish at Autopolis. In Super Formula, Palou had even more success. He won a race at Fuji Speedway after starting from pole position. He also earned pole position at the final race in Suzuka. He finished 3rd in the Super Formula championship.
IndyCar Series Journey
In July 2019, Palou got his first chance to test an IndyCar with Dale Coyne Racing.
Dale Coyne Racing (2020)
Rookie Season
On December 19, 2019, it was announced that Palou would join the IndyCar Series as a rookie. He raced for Dale Coyne Racing with Team Goh. His first race was at Texas Motor Speedway. He earned his first IndyCar podium finish at Road America.
Chip Ganassi Racing (2021–Present)
2021: First Championship
Palou joined Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2021 IndyCar Series season. On April 18, 2021, he won his first IndyCar Series race at Barber Motorsports Park. He also earned his first pole position in IndyCar at Texas Motor Speedway.
He continued to have a fantastic season. He finished second in the famous 2021 Indianapolis 500 race. This result put him in the lead for the championship points. He then had a series of podium finishes. He won another race at Road America. He took his third victory of the season at Portland.
Palou went into the final race with a good lead. He finished fourth at Long Beach, which was enough to win his first IndyCar championship! He became the third Chip Ganassi Racing driver to win the IndyCar title. He also won the Mario Andretti Cup for being the best driver on road and street courses.
2022 Season
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Palou started the 2022 season strong with podium finishes at St. Petersburg, Long Beach, and Barber. He finished 5th in the championship standings. He ended the year with a great win at the Laguna Seca finale.
Team Changes
In 2022, there was some discussion about Palou's racing future. Chip Ganassi Racing announced they had extended his contract. However, Palou stated he wanted to explore other opportunities, including with McLaren Racing. After some talks, an agreement was reached. Palou continued to race for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2023. He also had the chance to test a Formula One car for McLaren.
2023: Second Championship
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Palou had an amazing start to his 2023 season. He finished in the top five in four of the first five races. He won the GMR Grand Prix. During qualifying for the 107th Indianapolis 500, Palou set a new record speed to earn pole position.
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He then won the Detroit Grand Prix, followed by another victory at Road America. He achieved a third consecutive win at Mid-Ohio. By winning the Grand Prix of Portland, he secured his second IndyCar championship one race early!
2024: Third Championship
Palou continued his strong performance in 2024. He finished in the top five in eight of the first ten races. He won races on the IMS Road Course and at Laguna Seca. He also won the non-championship $1 Million Challenge event.
His consistent results helped him win his third IndyCar Series championship. He became the first IndyCar driver to win back-to-back championships since Dario Franchitti did it from 2009 to 2011.
2025 Season
The 2025 season started incredibly well for Palou. He won the first two races at St. Petersburg and Thermal. He then achieved three straight wins: at Barber, the IMS Grand Prix, and the prestigious 2025 Indianapolis 500. This was his first win on an oval track and made him the first Spaniard to win the Indy 500. He later won at Road America and also took pole position and victory in the second Iowa race.
Formula One Experience
In September 2022, McLaren announced that Palou would test their Formula One cars. He tested the MCL35M at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and later at the Red Bull Ring. Palou made his official debut in a Formula One practice session at the 2022 United States Grand Prix. He described the F1 car as "insane."
On December 1, 2022, McLaren named Palou as a reserve driver for the 2023 Formula One World Championship. He continued to test F1 cars, including at the Hungaroring.
Other Racing Ventures
Palou also owns a racing team called Palou Motorsport. This team competes in the Eurocup-3 series. In its first season in 2023, Palou Motorsport earned three podium finishes. In 2025, the team won three races in the Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter Championship and the main championship.
Palou also competed in the 2025 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race with Meyer Shank Racing.
Personal Life
Álex Palou and his wife, Esther Valle, welcomed their first child on December 4, 2023.
Images for kids
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Palou took his third podium from six World Series Formula V8 3.5 races at the Circuit of the Americas.
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Palou driving at the Norisring in European Formula 3.
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Palou during the 2022 XPEL 375.
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Palou took pole position for the 2023 Indianapolis 500 before finishing the race in fourth.
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Palou during the 2023 Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America.
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Palou celebrating at the podium after winning at Road America.
See also
In Spanish: Álex Palou para niños
