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Indy 500 champion Alex Palou addresses possibility of competing in NASCAR

Nick Profile Picby: Nick Geddes05/28/25NickGeddesNews
Alex Palou
Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It’s not completely uncommon for IndyCar Series drivers to eventually make their way into NASCAR. A.J. Foyt, Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya among others did it, to varying degrees of success. While Alex Palou may never come to NASCAR full-time, how about a road or street course run?

Palou, fresh off winning this past Sunday’s 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500, spoke with FOX Sports analyst Kevin Harvick. The 28-year-old said that while he has no interest in Formula One, he would welcome the challenge of competing in a NASCAR road or street course race.

“Oh, absolutely,” Palou said. “I would be down for that. I mean, it’s a very different car, very different kind of racing. I know I would get smashed by all of you guys on ovals, but I would love to give it a try on a road or a street course.”

Only six years into his IndyCar career, Palou is building an impressive legacy for himself. Since joining Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021 to pilot the No. 10 Honda, Palou has won three IndyCar Championships. This season, he looks better than ever. Palou has won five of six races, finishing second in his only defeat. At this point, it may not be a question of whether Palou will win the 2025 Championship, but how early will he have it locked up.

Alex Palou explains why he prefers to stay in IndyCar over Formula One

He’s making it look easy in IndyCar competing against some of the best open wheelmen in the world. As for Formula One, Palou is having too much fun in IndyCar to leave.

“I don’t want to leave now. Even if they say, ‘No, don’t worry, you can come back in one or two years.’ What if suddenly everyone is here and I’m never able to catch back up to them? And it wasn’t in my mind last year, and it’s not in my mind this year,” Palou said, via Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. “It’s getting less and less and less every day, and with this, it’s like, ‘No, I want to get another [Indy 500 victory].’

“[Formula One] is not calling me anymore. I still follow it. It’s a huge series. It’s amazing. I’m a big fan, but I don’t think they’re having as much fun as I’m having here. I don’t see people celebrating with their wives and their kids as much as we do. I don’t see them hanging in the bus lot or having dinner with their mechanics. I only enjoy driving and having fun and being with my people, so I think [Formula One] is the total opposite.”

NASCAR now has six road course/street races on the schedule, giving Palou plenty of opportunity if he wants to give it a try. We have seen outsiders have success, with Shane van Gisbergen winning the 2023 Chicago Street Race in his NASCAR debut. Four-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves made his Cup Series debut in this year’s Daytona 500.