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Alex Palou opened the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season the same way he finished the last one. The reigning champion delivered a commanding performance at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, leading 59 of 100 laps to claim his 20th career win for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Palou’s strong start to the new campaign also revived conversations about the Spaniard's rising popularity in motorsports. During the post-race press conference, he was asked whether he is more popular at home than F1 stars, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz Jr.
The four-time IndyCar champion quickly dismissed the idea.
“No, no, not even close,” Palou said (via ASAP sports). “Why not? I don’t know. Don’t ask me. I mean, I think it’s different, different styles. But I don't mind it. I love it. I wouldn't change anything that has been or has happened to me.”Ganassi team manager Barry Wanser suggested during the exchange:
“More people know who you are, though.”
Carlos Sainz and Alex Palou - 2022 F1 US Grand Prix - Source: Getty
Alex Palou admitted the increased attention, but it is not something he seeks.
“Yes, but I don't like that part. I like to be in the car. I like to be strapped in, and I like to drive the race. It's amazing. It's welcome, and I feel like we're very lucky to have so many fans,” he added.The response comes from a driver who has built one of the most dominant runs in modern IndyCar history. Alex Palou captured four titles in five years, including three in a row entering 2026. His 2025 campaign ended with a 196-point gap over the field, one of the largest margins the series has seen in decades.
Despite Palou’s achievements in the United States, the biggest motorsport names in Spain remain Alonso and Sainz due to their long-standing presence in Formula One. Alonso is a two-time F1 champion and one of the sport’s most recognizable figures, while Sainz has established himself as a consistent front-running driver on the F1 grid heading into the 2026 season.
Alex Palou - NTT INDYCAR Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - Source: Getty
Alex Palou’s 2026 campaign began just two days after he settled a legal dispute with McLaren, putting a long-running off-track storyline behind him. Once the green flag dropped in St. Petersburg, however, the focus was squarely on racing.
Starting fourth on the grid, Palou quickly worked his way into contention. While several rivals pitted earlier, the No. 10 team stayed out longer on old tires. The overcut allowed Palou to cycle back to the lead once the pit stops played out.
Palou controlled the final stint and steadily extended the gap with the chasing pack. The victory came by 12.4 seconds, the largest margin in the race’s history.
“Incredible. I mean, I don't know what to say from this team anymore,” Alex Palou said in the press conference. “It's been a long offseason. I was sad last year that the season ended. I just wanted to continue going, because I knew it was so magical and so tough to get such a great car, such a great team behind me." “Yeah, this team has done it again here for this weekend. It's very early on, but still, I think that shows all the preparation they did, and I had by far the best car today," he added.Behind him, rivals struggled to match the pace. Pato O'Ward later pointed to a strange issue that limited the pace of his Arrow McLaren car during the race. Meanwhile, Josef Newgarden endured an uncharacteristically quiet outing as Team Penske failed to challenge for victory.
For Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing, the opening round declared that the defending champions remain the benchmark in IndyCar. The series now heads to Phoenix Raceway next weekend for the Good Ranchers 250.
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Edited by Parag Jain
