Alex Palou lands a multi-year Ganassi contract extension after a banner week at Indy
Since joining Chip Ganassi Racing six seasons ago, Spanish driver Alex Palou has shown to be a generational talent who is quickly working his way through IndyCar's record books. For that, Palou has earned a multi-year contract extension on his current deal that ran through the 2027 season. The extension was finalized following this week's two-day Indianapolis 500 test.
Ganassi never publicly discloses contract terms. The reward capped a celebratory week for Palou, who drove into Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the defending Indy 500 winner for testing and saw a larger-than-life banner of himself chugging the traditional winner’s milk. It’s the main banner as you enter the speedway — key placement he’d seen reserved for rival drivers the previous six years.
“I took a picture when I was driving by and sent it to my parents,” Palou said. Palou has won four IndyCar championships in five years, including the last three consecutive titles. He won eight times last season, including the 500, as he's blossomed in IndyCar since joining Ganassi in 2021.
Ahead of the Long Beach Grand Prix two weeks ago, former Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi was asked if anything had surprised him through the first quarter of the season. His response was immediate: “Yeah, that Alex has only won two races. And isn’t the points leader.
” Palou responded by winning Long Beach to give him three wins through five races this year and reclaim the top spot in the championship standings. “It’s incredible, actually amazing,” said rival driver Will Power, a two-time IndyCar champion and Indianapolis 500 winner. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about the last week or so because once again, he’s gone out and won three out of five races.