Alex Palou, a three-time IndyCar champion with Chip Ganassi Racing, continues his pursuit of an elusive Indianapolis 500 victory. Despite his remarkable achievements in the series, including clinching pole position at the 2023 Indy 500, Palou has yet to secure a win at the iconic event.

Encouraging Developments After Indy 500 Open Test

Following a recent two-day open test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, optimism is building within the Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) camp. Chris Simmons, CGR’s director of performance, shared positive feedback regarding the team’s progress, particularly with their Chevrolet-powered cars on the famed oval. Simmons stated, “It definitely looked like we were a lot more in the ballpark than last year, and there was a sigh of relief, rather than, ‘Oh boy, we’re in trouble.’ I don’t want to read too much into an open test without knowing who was running what power level, but we were pretty happy with the test list we got through, and the performance we had, and the handling and speed of the cars. We’re a lot better place than we were at this time last year”.

CGR’s 2024 Indy 500 Performance and Palou’s Progress

The 2024 Indy 500 was dominated by Team Penske, whose drivers Scott McLaughlin, Will Power, and Josef Newgarden locked out the front row in qualifying. In contrast, Alex Palou qualified 14th, with teammate Scott Dixon starting from 21st. However, CGR’s race pace and strategy proved effective. Palou gained nine positions during the race, finishing fourth, while Dixon secured a podium with third place. Josef Newgarden ultimately won the race, overtaking Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward on the final lap.

Hybrid Power Units Add a New Challenge for 2025

Looking ahead to the 2025 Indy 500, the event will mark the first time IndyCar drivers compete with hybrid-powered cars at the Brickyard. The new hybrid system provides additional power in short bursts but adds 105 pounds to the car, significantly affecting balance and drivability. Palou commented on the increased difficulty, saying, “It’s tougher to drive, it’s a lot easier to see people doing mistakes. I think in the past two or three years, it was super easy that if you were comfortable with your car, you just stay there, don’t go 100%, wait for the car in front to do a mistake, then you go. Now, even if you are comfortable and you have a really good car, it’s very easy to do a mistake, which then creates a gap for the guy behind to get a chance. I don’t think the weight helps, but I think the weight helps because it’s so difficult, that creates opportunities”.

Strong Testing Results Raise Hopes

During the open test, Palou was the quickest in the morning session of the first day and finished seventh overall by the end of the day, while teammate Scott Dixon topped the timesheets. On the second day, Palou was fastest in race trim, further raising expectations for a potential Indy 500 victory.

With improved car performance, positive feedback from the team, and strong test results, Alex Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing appear poised to make a serious bid for victory at the 2025 Indianapolis 500.