Palou’s Blazing IndyCar Domination Soars with IMS Road Course Victory

Credit: Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment

Alex Palou celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Saturday, May 10, 2025.

By Gabriel Whitley, Hoosier Enquirer Published: 10:27 PM EDT, May 10, 2025Updated: 10:30 PM EDT, May 10, 2025

INDIANAPOLIS — Alex Palou’s remarkable 2025 IndyCar season reached new heights on Saturday as he claimed his third consecutive victory in the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. The three-time and defending series champion secured his fourth win in the first five races, a feat not accomplished since Sebastien Bourdais won the opening four races of the 2006 ChampCar World Series season.

“It’s crazy. I’m sad that it’s going to end at some point, and it’s going to be tough in my career to feel as good as I feel now,” Palou said post-race. “I know that, and that makes me sad, but happy at the same time.”

Starting from pole, Palou was briefly overtaken by second-place qualifier Graham Rahal in the first turn. Rahal, whose last IndyCar podium came at the 2023 Gallagher Grand Prix on the same IMS road course, led the first half of the race, fending off Palou through the initial pit cycles. However, Rahal’s final pit stop left him on used soft tires, a disadvantage that Palou capitalized on with fresher primary tires.

“We were battling on our second stint, but I couldn’t really overtake him,” Palou said of his duel with Rahal. “It was great at the end when I got to pass him. I think he was struggling a little bit with the used soft tires. We were on good primaries, so yeah, it was great.” Rahal faded but salvaged a sixth-place finish.

The victory extended Palou’s championship lead to a commanding 97 points as the IndyCar series shifts focus to the Indianapolis 500 on May 25.

Credit: Matt Fraver/Penske Entertainment

Green Flag Streak Ends

Saturday’s race saw the first caution flag since the season-opening crash in St. Petersburg, ending a remarkable streak of 408 consecutive green-flag laps. The yellow was triggered with 15 laps remaining when David Malukas stopped at the end of Hulman Boulevard. However, with the final pit cycle already completed, the caution did little to alter the race’s outcome. Palou easily pulled away from Pato O’Ward on the restart and cruised to victory.

Pre-Race Woes for Simpson and Newgarden

The race wasn’t without its challenges. Tenth-place qualifier Kyffin Simpson stalled on the grid before the race began, unable to shift into first gear. Despite his team’s efforts, the sophomore driver from the Cayman Islands failed to complete a single lap. Simpson later explained the issue on social media. Josef Newgarden also faced trouble, encountering a mechanical issue during the pace laps that forced him to pit and relinquish his sixth-place starting position. Starting from the rear, Newgarden battled back to finish 12th.

Palou’s Historic Run

Palou’s dominance in 2025 has set a new benchmark in IndyCar, with his fourth win in five races marking one of the most impressive starts in recent memory. As the series prepares for the iconic Indianapolis 500, all eyes will be on whether Palou can maintain his extraordinary momentum.

Gabriel Whitley covers IndyCar for Hoosier Enquirer. Follow him on X @realhonestgabe for updates.