Alex Palou Dominates at St. Petersburg, Eyes Fourth Consecutive Championship

St. Petersburg, FL – Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing kicked off the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with a commanding victory at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday. The four-time series champion, coming off a historic 2025 season, demonstrated his continued dominance, securing his 20th career win in his 99th start.

Palou’s Unmatched Performance

Palou crossed the finish line 12.4948 seconds ahead of Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske, who started from the pole position. Christian Lundgaard of Arrow McLaren completed the podium, finishing third after starting 12th. The victory further solidifies Palou’s position as a frontrunner in the series as he aims for an unprecedented fourth consecutive championship.

2025 Season Recap

In 2025, Palou achieved remarkable success, winning eight races, including the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 . He clinched his third consecutive INDYCAR championship with a substantial 196-point lead – a margin exceeding three full races. He is the youngest four-time champion in INDYCAR history, and the first to achieve three consecutive titles since Dario Franchitti from 2009-2011 .

Race Results

The top five finishers at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg were:

• Alex Palou
• Scott McLaughlin
• Christian Lundgaard
• Kyle Kirkwood
• Pato O’Ward

Palou’s Career Highlights

Alex Palou, driving the No. 10 DHL Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, has quickly become a force in INDYCAR. His accomplishments include:

• Four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion (2021, 2023, 2024, 2025)
• Winner of the 109th Indianapolis 500
• 19 career wins in under 100 starts
• Prior success in Euroformula Open, Spanish Formula 3, GP3, Japanese Formula 3, and Super Formula

Looking Ahead

With a strong start to the 2026 season, Alex Palou is poised to continue his championship pursuit. The INDYCAR SERIES now moves on to the next race, where Palou will look to build on his momentum and further cement his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest drivers.