Álex Palou, first Spaniard to win the Indianapolis 500

Álex Palou made history for Spanish motorsport. The driver from San Antonio de Vilamajor became the first Spaniard to conquer one of the three jewels of the motorsport Triple Crown, arguably the most elusive: the Indianapolis 500. The three-time IndyCar champion finally achieved victory at the legendary oval, the 'brickyard', completing a career that brushed against Formula 1 without needing to reach it.

Palou excelled in the race where legends like Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Helio Castroneves were forged, but also where internationally renowned drivers like Fernando Alonso failed spectacularly. The Indiana oval is perhaps one of the most capricious in choosing its winners.

In this edition, Palou started from pole position as the favourite. The Barcelona native has been a benchmark for several seasons, and together with Chip Ganassi's team, he formed a formidable duo that even made him ignore the siren calls of Formula 1, which McLaren timidly beckoned. The threat of rain, which briefly appeared, raised fears that the race might not even take place.

Palou knew his career wouldn't be complete without winning this race. "I can't believe it. I'm exhausted, but this was an amazing race," he said breathlessly after a race where circumstances were not easy. Everything was decided with 14 laps to go, in a quintet he shared with Marcus Ericsson, former F1 driver and 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner, David Malukas, Pato O'Ward, and Felix Rosenqvist. All five had serious chances, but it was Palou who took the plunge and dared to overtake the Swede at the critical moment. The strategy paid off: the team knew how and when to refuel, something that seems like science fiction to Formula 1 followers but remains crucial in the United States. In Indianapolis, it's key for those who want to win: saving a pit stop, for example, is critical.

Palou also managed to avoid incidents and kept his head from the start. This edition began with chaos from the formation lap when Roberto Guerrero crashed before the race even started. Nerves were high as two spectacular U.S. Army helicopters performed an honour guard at the start. Then it was Marco Andretti, Rinus VeeKay, Schwartzmann—who even took out three of his mechanics during a pit stop—Kyle Larson, and the very Josef Newgarden, winner of the last two editions of the 500 miles. They all experienced a tough race, marked by strong winds and surprisingly low temperatures for what they were used to, especially the veterans.

This is where Palou gave it his all. Often accused of being almost unbeatable on road circuits—more similar to Formula 1 tracks for IndyCar novices—but weaker on ovals, he kept his head and attacked only when necessary. He led three times, with a special moment during the penultimate pit stop of his strategy, when he settled at the top to fight for victory. Once he found himself in that battle, he had to save fuel to pass just at the end with a full tank, leaving his rivals without options. That moment, with 14 laps to go, was when he realised he could be crowned the 500-mile champion.

On a frankly forgettable Sunday at the Monaco GP, one of the three points of that Triple Crown—the other being the 24 Hours of Le Mans—for Spaniards, Palou emerged as the legend he had been presumed to be for years. He deserved that milk bath, the Indy champagne with which, by tradition, champions celebrate at the oval. His was whole, nothing semi-skimmed or similar. His face will be sculpted on one of the most mythical trophies not only in motorsport but in world sport, the Borg-Warner. The promising driver who came from the Campos Racing academy—like so many others—but had to move to Japan because there was no room, who tried to climb the Formula 1 ladder but was only allowed to touch it with his fingers before being rejected, and who tried, almost by chance, in the United States, has just made history for Spanish sport. Álex Palou Montalbo, after finishing second in 2021, fourth in 2023, and fifth in 2024, finally became the winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 2025.